Table 9.

Characteristics of studies providing PT-guided physical exercise interventions for the treatment of triceps spasticity after stroke.

Author	Sample	Intervention and dosage	Comparator	Outcomes	Follow-up (months)	Within group difference (over time)	Between group difference after treatment
Zhang et al. (66) (RCT)	36 (18/18 IG/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 6 months (MAS ≤ 2)	40-min water-based exercises Five days a week, for 2 months	CG: 40-min land-based exercises	MAS MVIC of dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, FAC, Barthel Index (BI)	n.a.	IG: MAS ↔ MVIC, FAC, BI ↑ CG: MAS ↔ MVIC dorsiflexors, FAC, BI ↑	FAC, BI†
Akbari et al. (67)	34 (17/17 IG/CG) patients with spasticity for at least 1 year	Strengthening, balance, and functional exercises Three days a week, for 1 month	CG: Balance and functional exercises	MAS Strength	n.a.	IG: MAS ↓ Strength ↑ CG: MAS ↓ Strength ↑	MAS†

^↑Statistically significant increase.

^↓Statistically significant decrease.

^↔No statistical difference.

^†IG overcomes comparator.

IG, Intervention Group; CG, Control Group; n.a, not available; RCT Randomized Controlled Trial; MAS, Modified Ashworth Scale; MVIC, Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction; FAC, Functional Ambulatory Category; BI, Barthel Index.