Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41868484›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology

Comparative effects of six rehabilitation therapies on lower limb function and gait function in stroke patients: a network meta-analysis of 33 RCTs.

Shuxin Zhang, Hongying Zhang, Zhaobin Miao, Jia Han

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Shuxin Zhang *School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Hongying Zhang *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Second People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Zhaobin MiaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kong Jiang Hospital of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
Jia HanSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to systematically compare the relative efficacy of six non-invasive rehabilitation interventions-Standardized Rehabilitation (SR), Aerobic Rehabilitation (AR), Resistance Training Rehabilitation (RTR), Intelligent Rehabilitation (IR), Traditional Chinese Rehabilitation (TCR), and Neuromodulation Rehabilitation (NR)-in improving lower limb function and gait function in stroke patients using a network meta-analysis approach. It also ranks the efficacy of each intervention. Methods: We systematically searched five databases-PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus-for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2003 to November 2025. Two researchers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Stata 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Probabilistic ranking of intervention efficacy was performed using the cumulative ordered ranking curve area (SUCRA) value. Results: A total of 33 RCTs were included. Network meta-analysis revealed: (1) For lower limb function improvement (using the Fugl-Meyer lower limb score as the core indicator), the efficacy ranking was IR (SUCRA = 75.7) > AR (60.7) > RTR (53.1) > SR (10.5). Smart rehabilitation had the highest probability (46.7%) of being the optimal approach. (2) For gait function improvement (core measures: walking speed, 6-min walk test), the efficacy ranking was NR (SUCRA = 82.2) > IR (71.6) > AR (50.8) > RTR (38.8) > TCR (35.7) > SR (20.9). Neuromodulation rehabilitation had the highest probability of being the optimal solution (36.5%). Direct and indirect comparison results were largely consistent, with funnel plots showing no significant publication bias. Conclusion: Based on existing evidence, intelligent rehabilitation may offer relative advantages in improving lower limb function in stroke patients, while neuromodulation rehabilitation demonstrates greater potential for enhancing gait function. Standardized rehabilitation, as a conventional baseline approach, demonstrated relatively weaker effects. The ranking results from this study provide evidence-based guidance for clinicians selecting individualized rehabilitation programs targeting different functional goals. Future high-quality research is needed to validate and refine intervention recommendations for different disease stages.

Indexed as

gait functionlower limb functionnetwork meta-analysisrehabilitation intervention comparisonstroke rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID41868484
PMCPMC13002361

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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.