Kutlay 2018.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | Assessor‐blinded randomised controlled clinical study. Setting: inpatient rehabilitation, Turkey |
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| Participants | “stroke patients with UN who were admitted for rehabilitation in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara University Medical Faculty, from February 2013 to December 2014 were screened” Age, years: intervention = 62 (54.5 to 67), control = 63 (54 to 70.75) Sex: intervention = 15/10 (m/f), control = 17/11 Hemisphere damaged: right Time since stroke, months: intervention = 4 (2 to 10.5), control = 3 (2 to 4.75) |
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| Interventions | The Kinesthetic Ability Trainer (KAT; LLC, Vista, CA, USA) is a balance and training system that provides visual feedback to control body posture on a movable platform. The KAT system works by altering the stability of a movable platform, on which an individual stands, and/or by varying the degree to which the individual alters his or her base of support by shifting weight in response to visual feedback provided by a personal computer, in addition to the therapist’s guidance, encouragement, and feedback. Participants in the intervention group received a 4‐week balance training programme 5 times per week with session duration of 20 to 30 minutes. Control participants received usual care | |
| Outcomes | 1. Full BIT 2. FIM All taken immediately post intervention with no longer‐term follow‐up |
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| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | An independent research assistant (who was unaware of the baseline data) carried out the randomisation procedure with a block size of 4 using computer software |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | Sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes were used to conceal the randomisation sequence |
| Blinding of participants | High risk | Impossible to blind |
| Blinding of personnel | High risk | Impossible to blind |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | The rehabilitation team evaluating patients was blinded to group assignment |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | During the study, 4 patients from the control group and 7 from the KAT group dropped out for several reasons. A final total of 28 patients in the control group and 25 in the KAT group completed the study |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | Outcomes were reported with equal detail |
| Other bias | Low risk | Nothing obvious |