SynthesisPloS one2014
What is the evidence for physical therapy poststroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 16 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 468 papers, 22 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Profiling and Predicting the Natural Course of Real World Physical Activity and Upper Limb Use After Stroke
Efficacy of the Use of Educational Videos for Caregivers of Patients in Subacute Phase of Stroke
Evaluation of Stroke Patient Screening in an Acute Stroke Setting
Feasibility and Cost Description of Intensive Rehabilitation Involving New Technologies in Patients With Sub-acute Stroke:A Multicenter Single Arm Trial of the Swiss RehabTech Initiative
The Effects of Gait Rehabilitation Using Treadmill-based Robotics (Exoskeletons or End-effectors) Versus Traditional Physical Therapy in Stroke Survivors: a Multicenter Controlled Non-randomized Trial
The Effects of a Task Based Computerised Exercise System Versus Conventional Physiotherapy on Upper Extremity Functionality, Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: a Randomised Control Study
Study of the Rehabilitative Efficacy of Copernicus®, a Visual Feedback Device for the Early Start to Locomotion of Post-stroke Patients
Assessment of the Level of Physical Activity and Sedentarism of Stroke Survivors in the Valencian Community and Development of a Specific Self-management Program
Prep Plus: Supporting Upper Limb Practice in Community Dwelling Stroke Survivors
Effects of Joint Integrity Exercises Verses Mirror Therapy on Proprioception and Functional Rehabilitation of Upper Limb in Hemineglect Stroke Survivors
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Neurological Disability Among Subacute Stroke Survivors to Improve Multiple Domains in Quality of Life (QoL): Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Direct Current Transcranial Stimulation as Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy in Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Patients.
Effects of Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program Versus Task Based Training on Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patients
PeRsonAlised Community Based TelerehabIlitation Post StrokE to Increase Rehabilitation Time and Improve Motor Recovery: a Feasibility Study
Transcranial Static Field Stimulation (tSMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the Treatment of Neurological Symptoms
Effects of Using Advanced NEUROrehabilitation TECHnologies in Upper Limb Motor Function and Capacity Recovery in People With Stroke
Who cites it
468 citing papers in PubMed, 22 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Combined transcranial direct current stimulation and mirror therapy for upper limb rehabilitation in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Pooled it
- Vibrotactile stimulation for upper-limb neurorehabilitation and sensorimotor training: a systematic review of clinical and mechanistic evidence.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness of interventions in increasing physical activity of inpatients after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitation · 2025Pooled it
- Systematic review: Resting state functional MRI as a biomarker for non-invasive brain stimulation in upper limb recovery post-stroke.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025Pooled it
- Upper limb robotic rehabilitation following stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating efficacy and the influence of device features and program parameters.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2025Pooled it
- Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Virtual Reality Therapy for Upper Limb Motor Impairments in Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of robotic therapy associated with noninvasive brain stimulation on motor function in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.The journal of spinal cord medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Upper extremity function and disability recovery with vibration therapy after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Pooled it
- Use of commercially available wearable devices for physical rehabilitation in healthcare: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2024Pooled it
- Effectiveness of combined robotics and virtual reality on lower limb functional ability in stroke survivors: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of robotic exoskeleton training on lower limb function, activity and participation in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Pooled it
- Mirror therapy combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation for poststroke lower extremity motor function recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2023Pooled it
- Manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The effect of balance and gait training on specific balance abilities of survivors with stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Exercise in Improving Physical Function of Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Skeletal Muscle Changes in the First Three Months of Stroke Recovery: A Systematic Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2022Pooled it
- Short and long-term effects of robot-assisted therapy on upper limb motor function and activity of daily living in patients post-stroke: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2022Pooled it
408 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPhysical therapy (PT) is one of the key disciplines in interdisciplinary stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an update of the evidence for stroke rehabilitation interventions in the domain of PT. METHODS AND
findingsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding PT in stroke rehabilitation were retrieved through a systematic search. Outcomes were classified according to the ICF. RCTs with a low risk of bias were quantitatively analyzed. Differences between phases poststroke were explored in subgroup analyses. A best evidence synthesis was performed for neurological treatment approaches. The search yielded 467 RCTs (N = 25373; median PEDro score 6 [IQR 5-7]), identifying 53 interventions. No adverse events were reported. Strong evidence was found for significant positive effects of 13 interventions related to gait, 11 interventions related to arm-hand activities, 1 intervention for ADL, and 3 interventions for physical fitness. Summary Effect Sizes (SESs) ranged from 0.17 (95%CI 0.03-0.70; I(2) = 0%) for therapeutic positioning of the paretic arm to 2.47 (95%CI 0.84-4.11; I(2) = 77%) for training of sitting balance. There is strong evidence that a higher dose of practice is better, with SESs ranging from 0.21 (95%CI 0.02-0.39; I(2) = 6%) for motor function of the paretic arm to 0.61 (95%CI 0.41-0.82; I(2) = 41%) for muscle strength of the paretic leg. Subgroup analyses yielded significant differences with respect to timing poststroke for 10 interventions. Neurological treatment approaches to training of body functions and activities showed equal or unfavorable effects when compared to other training interventions. Main limitations of the present review are not using individual patient data for meta-analyses and absence of correction for multiple testing.
conclusionsThere is strong evidence for PT interventions favoring intensive high repetitive task-oriented and task-specific training in all phases poststroke. Effects are mostly restricted to the actually trained functions and activities. Suggestions for prioritizing PT stroke research are given.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.