Table 3.
Characteristics of included studies (alphabetical order).
| References | Participants, n (female/male) | Mean age (SD), years | Trial name | Outcome measures | Time points of measure | Intervention groups (n) | Baseline/inclusion definition (mean time after stroke at baseline) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adie et al. (32) | 235 (104/131) | 67.4 (13.2) | TWIST | ARAT, SIS | 2, 3, 9 months after stroke | Arm exercises, Wii | Up to 6 months after stroke; baseline mean: 2 months after stroke |
| Brunner et al. (33) | 120 (43/77) | 62 (NA) | VIRTUES | ARAT, BBT | 1, 2, 6 months after stroke | Standard therapy, virtual reality rehabilitation training | Within 12 weeks after stroke |
| Chen et al. (34) | 250 (102/148) | 63.3 (10.6) | — | F-M | 0, 1, 2 months after stroke | Standard therapy, acupuncture | 2–7 days after stroke |
| Cramer et al. (35) | 133 (60/73) | 67.7 (11.6) | — | BBT | 0, 3 months after stroke | Placebo, monoclonal antibody GSK249320 | Within 72 h after stroke |
| Feys et al. (36) | 100 (41/59) | 64.2 (11.9) | — | F-M | 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 months after stroke | Standard therapy, sensorimotor stimulation (additional) | 2–5 weeks after stroke |
| Ghaziani et al. (37) | 102 (52/50) | 71.5 (15.5) | — | BBT, F-M, GRIP | 7 days, 1, 6 months after stroke | Electric somatosensory stimulation: high dose, low dose | First 7 days |
| Gialanella and Santoro (38) | 208 (101/107) | 69.7 (10.3) | — | F-M | 1, 2 months after stroke | Standard therapy | All consecutive patients admitted to the Rehabilitation Unit (17 ± 5.4 days) |
| Guo et al. (39) | 120 (53/67) | 68.1 (11) | — | F-M | 3,4,6,12 months after stroke | MT, ESWT, MT +ESWT, standard therapy | 3 months |
| Harvey et al. (40) | 199 (130/69) | 59.2 (13) | NICHE | ARAT, F-M, WMFT | Data made available for each month after stroke | Motor training protocol using a navigated brain therapy device, sham | 3–12 months after stroke |
| Ietswaart et al. (41) | 121 (51/70) | 67.4 (14.3) | — | ARAT, GRIP | 3, 4 months after stroke | Standard therapy, motor imagery training, attention-placebo | Within 6 months after stroke |
| Kong et al. (42) | 105 (28/77) | 57.6 (11.4) | — | ARAT, F-M, SIS | 0, 1, 2, 4 months after stroke | Standard therapy, Wii gaming, control | 2 weeks after stroke |
| Kwakkel et al. (25) | 101 (58/43) | 65.9 (11.5) | — | ARAT | 0, 2, 3, 5, 6 months after stroke | Control, leg training focus, arm training focus | 14 days after stroke |
| Kwakkel et al. (26) | 159 (63/96) | 60.4 (12.2) | EXPLICIT | ARAT, F-M, SIS, WMFT | 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 months after stroke | Usual care, EMG-NMS, mCimt | Within the first 2 weeks after-stroke |
| Lincoln et al. (27) | 282 (138/144) | 71.6 (11.5) | — | ARAT, GRIP, PEG, RMA | 1, 2, 3, 6 months after stroke | Standard therapy (RPT), standard therapy + PT assistant (APT), standard therapy + qualified personnel (QPT) | 1–5 weeks after stroke |
| Lohse et al. (43) | 220 (93/127) | 59.8 (12.6) | — | ARAT | Data made available for each month after stroke | Standard therapy | Retrospective analysis |
| Meyer et al. (44) | 122 (45/77) | 66.4 (12.4) | — | ARAT, F-M, MI | Data made available for months 1–6 after stroke | Standard therapy | 12 days to 6 months after stroke |
| Morris et al. (45) | 106 (45/61) | 67.8 (11.5) | — | ARAT, PEG, RMA | 1, 3, 6 months after stroke | Unilateral training 6 weeks, bilateral training 6 weeks | 2–4 weeks after stroke |
| Nadeau et al. (46) | 408 (184/224) | 63.8 (8.5) | LEAPS | F-M | 3, 9 months after stroke | Analysis of LEAPS trial (locomotor experience applied poststroke, Duncan et al., (47)—measures at 12 months | Within 45 days after stroke |
| Opheim et al. (48) | 117 (51/66) | 69.3 (13.1) | SALGOT | F-M | 1, 12 months after stroke | Observation | 3 days after stroke |
| Rodgers et al. (49) | 123 (65/58) | 74.5 (-) | — | ARAT, MI | 0, 3, 6 months after stroke | control—stroke unit care 6 weeks, intervention—enhanced upper limb rehabilitation 6weeks | Within 10 days after stroke |
| Rodgers et al. (50) | 161 (64/97) | 60.6 (13.4) | RATULS | ARAT, F-M | 5,5 months after stroke | Robot-assisted training, enhanced upper limb therapy, control (usual care) | Up to 5 years after stroke |
| Saposnik et al. (51) | 141 (47/94) | 62 (12.5) | EVREST | BBT, GRIP, SIS, WMFT | 1, 2, 3 months after stroke | Recreational therapy, virtual reality Wii | Within 3 months after first stroke |
| van Vliet et al. (52) | 120 (60/60) | 74.2 (9.8) | — | PEG, RMA | 0, 1, 3, 6 months after stroke | Movement science-based treatment, Bobath based treatment | Within 2 weeks after stroke |
| Veerbeek et al. (53) | 202 (106/96) | 66.6 (14) | EPOS | F-M | 0, 6 months after stroke | Observation | Within 72 h after stroke |
| Wang et al. (54) | 134 (47/87) | 56.7 (7.8) | — | F-M | 3, 4, 5, 6 months after stroke | Treatment, control | 30–90 days after stroke |
| Wilson et al. (55) | 122 (51/71) | 56.4 (13.1) | — | F-M | 3, 6, 7, 8 months after stroke | Sensory stimulation, 8 weeks, EMG-triggered NMES, 8 weeks, cyclic NMES, 8 weeks | Within 6 months after stroke |
| Wolf et al. (56) | 222 (80/142) | 62.1 (13.1) | EXCITE | WMFT | 6, 7 months after stroke | CIMT −14 days, usual care | Within 3–9 months after stroke |
| Total | 4,433 (44.3% female) | 65 (12) |
There were 4,433 stroke survivors assessed with various scales at multiple time points. APT, assistant physiotherapist; ARAT, Action Research Arm Test; BBT, Box and Block test; EMG, electromyography; EMG-NMS, electromyography-triggered neuromuscular stimulation; ESWT, extracorporeal shock wave therapy; F-M, Fugl–Meyer Assessment (upper extremity); GRIP, grip force; mCimt, modified constraint-induced movement therapy; MI, Motricity Index; MT, mirror therapy; NMES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation; PEG, peg test; QPT, qualified physiotherapist; RMA, Rivermead Motor Assessment; RPT, routine physiotherapy; SIS, Stroke Impact Scale; WMFT, Wolf Motor Function Test.