Zucconi 2012.
| Methods | RCT (3 arms) | |
| Participants | Recruited from a neurorehabilitation ward in Italy 33 participants: 11 intervention, 11 control, 11 control Inclusion criteria: stroke in the MCA territory ≥ 6 months before enrolment, absence of ideomotor apraxia, neglect and aphasia interfering with verbal comprehension Exclusion criteria: apraxia, neglect and language disturbances Median (IQR) age: intervention group 60 (57.25‐76) years, control group 60 (49‐74.25) years, control group 64.5 (54.50‐69) years 39% men Timing post stroke: intervention group median (IQR) 10.05 (4.05‐17.90) months, control group 8.75 (2.75‐24.95) months, control group 5.05 (1.75‐17.90) months |
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| Interventions | VR intervention (Ever teacher group): Reinforced Feedback in Virtual Environment (RFVE). Participants were asked to manipulate sensorised objects (ball, plastic cup or cylinder). Specific feedback was provided (like a virtual teacher) to encourage the participant to emulate the correct movement VR intervention (No teacher group): VR intervention but with no feedback Control intervention: conventional rehabilitation programme Sessions were 60 min, 5 times/week for 4 weeks |
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| Outcomes | Outcomes recorded at baseline and post intervention Upper limb outcomes: Fugl Meyer UE, Reaching performance scale Other outcomes: Modified Ashworth Scale, kinematics Activity outcomes: Functional Independence Measure |
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| Notes | — | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Computer‐generated |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | Sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Blinded to allocation |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | No dropouts |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | No other outcomes collected |
6MWT: 6‐minute walk test ADL: activities of daily living CT: computerised tomography ITT: intention‐to‐treat IQR: interquartile range MCA: middle cerebral artery MI: myocardial infarction MMSE(‐K): Mini Mental State Examination( ‐ Korean) MRC: Medical Research Council MRI: magnetic resonance imaging OT: occupational therapy RCT: randomised controlled trial ROM: range of motion SD: standard deviation UE: upper extremity VR: virtual reality