A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 33 studies with 36 intervention-control pairs and 1853 participants. Repetitive task training (RTT) improves arm function (SMD 0.25, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.49; 11 studies, n = 749), hand function (SMD 0.25, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.51; 8 studies, n = 619), and lower limb functional measures (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.48; 5 trials, n = 419).RTT also improves walking distance (MD 34.80, 95% CI 18.19 to 51.41; 9 studies, n = 610) and functional ambulation (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.66; 8 studies, n = 525). There were significant differences between groups for both upper-limb (SMD 0.92, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.26; 3 studies, n = 153) and lower-limb (SMD 0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.52; 8 studies, n = 471) outcomes up to 6 months post treatment but not after 6 months. Effects were not modified by intervention type, dosage of task practice or time since stroke for upper or lower limb. There was insufficient evidence to be certain about the risk of adverse events.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).
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