Rehabilitation of the Stroke Patient - Related Resources
Cochrane reviews
- There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether slings and wheelchair attachments prevent subluxation, decrease pain, increase function or adversely increase contracture in the shoulder after stroke Supportive Devices for Subluxation of the Shoulder after Stroke.
- EMG biofeedback is probably not superior over standard physiotherapy for the recovery of motor function after stroke Electromyographic Biofeedback for the Recovery of Motor Function after Stroke.
- Physiotherapy using a mix of components from different approaches may be more effective than no treatment or placebo control in the recovery of functional independence following stroke Physiotherapy for the Recovery of Postural Control and Lower Limb Function Following Stroke.
- Cognitive rehabilitation may have limited benefit in unilateral spatial neglect of stroke survivors. Cognitive Rehabilitation for Spatial Neglect Following Stroke.
- Repetitive task training may provide modest short-term improvement in lower limb function, but not upper limb function, in rehabilitation after stroke Repetitive Task Training for Improving Functional Ability after Stroke.
- There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of specific therapeutic interventions for motor apraxia after stroke Interventions for Motor Apraxia Following Stroke.
- Therapy-based rehabilitation services provided one year or more after stroke may not have any significant effect on patient or carer outcomes Rehabilitation for Patients Living at Home More Than One Year after Stroke.
- Psychotherapy appears to have a small but significant effect on improving mood and preventing depression in stroke survivors, whereas antidepressants appear not to prevent depression or improve physical recovery in these patients Interventions for Preventing Depression after Stroke.
- A lower limb orthosis seems to improve walking and balance in short-term, although the evidence is insufficient. An upper limb orthosis seems to have no effect on upper limb function or pain,although the evidence is insufficient. Orthotic Devices after Stroke and other Non-Progressive Brain Lesions.
- Robot-assisted therapy seems to have limited effect to improve arm function following stroke, although the evidence in insufficient Effects of Electromechanical and Robot-Assisted Therapy on Upper Limb Recovery after Stroke.
- Overground physical therapy gait training is probably not effective in gait function in chronic stroke patients Overground Physical Therapy Gait Training for Chronic Stroke Patients with Mobility Deficits.
- Fitness training after stroke seems to improve walking ability but the evidence is insufficient Physical Fitness Training for Stroke Patients.
- Antidepressants seem to reduce emotionalism (lability, crying or laughing episodes) in stroke patients, although the evidence is insufficient Pharmaceutical Interventions for Emotionalism after Stroke.
- Circuit class therapy appears to improve mobility and reduce inpatient length of stay after stroke Circuit Class Therapy for Improving Mobility after Stroke.
- The evidence is insufficient to estimate the efficacy of water-based exercises to help to reduce disability after stroke Water-Based Exercises for Improving Activities of Daily Living after Stroke.
- Gait training assisted by electromechanical devices in combination with physiotherapy after stroke may be more effective than gait training without such devices Electromechanical-Assisted Training for Walking after Stroke.
- There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on any specific intervention at reducing the impact of impaired perceptual functioning after stroke Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Perceptual Disorders Following Stroke and other Adult-Acquired, Non-Progressive Brain Injury.
- For rehabilitation of upper limb function after stroke, electrical stimulation and mental practice (MP) in combination with other treatment might possibly be beneficial Electrical Stimulation and Mental Practice for Function of the Upper Limb after Stroke.
- For visual field defects in stroke compensatory scanning training might be more beneficial than placebo or control at improving scanning ability and reading speed, but not at improving visual field outcomes, although the evidence is insufficient Interventions for Visual Field Defects in Patients with Stroke.
- Paroxetine and buspirone might possibly be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in stroke patients with co-morbid anxiety and depression, although the evidence is insufficient Interventions for Treating Anxiety after Stroke.
- For stroke patients requiring long-term nutritional support (beyond 6 months), PEG feeding may result in fewer treatment failures and gastrointestinal bleeding and better feed delivery. Nutritional supplements are probably not effective to normally nourished patients Interventions for Nutritional Support in Subacute Stroke.
- Treadmill training with or without body weight support is probably not effective for walking after stroke Treadmill Training and Body Weight Support for Walking after Stroke.
- Electrostimulation may have some benefits for motor function compared to no treatment or placebo Electrostimulation for Promoting Recovery of Movement or Functional Ability after Stroke.
- After stroke, there is no evidence of the efficacy of bilateral training as compared with usual care or other upper limb interventions for performance in ADL, functional movement of the upper limb or motor impairment outcomes Simultaneous Bilateral Training for Improving Arm Function after Stroke.
- Exercise is probably not effective in reducing falls after stroke Interventions for Preventing Falls after Stroke.
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation might possibly have no effect in improving function after stroke, although the evidence is insufficient Transcranial Stimulation Therapies for Improving Function after Stroke.
Literature
- Young J, Forster A. Review of stroke rehabilitation. BMJ 2007 Jan 13;334(7584):86-90. [PubMed]
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