SynthesisFrontiers in neurology
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise training on dysfunction in acute, subacute, and chronic stroke patients.
Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Improvements in Gait Function Following Integrative Korean-Western Medicine Treatment in Older Adults with Chronic Stroke: A Retrospective Exploratory Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Observational
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of exercise training initiated in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases after stroke. Methods: The Wanfang, CNKI, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were comprehensively searched for relevant articles from their inception to December 2025. Studies comparing outcomes among the acute stage exercise training group (ASETG), subacute stage exercise training group (SSETG), and chronic stage exercise training group (CSETG) for stroke patients were included. The outcomes assessed were improvements in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) after treatment. Meta-analysis of comparable data was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results: A total of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 22 observational studies involving 5,254 patients were included. The meta-analysis indicated that the ASETG showed significantly greater improvements in FMA scores compared to the SSETG [WMD = 7.95, 95% CI (6.73, 9.16)]. This trend was also observed in the FMA-UE [WMD = 4.26, 95% CI (3.09, 5.44)] and FMA-LE [WMD = 4.57, 95% CI (3.73, 5.41)] subscales when compared to the SSETG. Furthermore, the ASETG outperformed the CSETG in FMA scores [WMD = 5.31, 95% CI (3.89, 6.72)]. In addition, the ASETG exhibited significantly greater improvements in BBS scores compared to the SSETG [WMD = 3.64, 95% CI (1.14, 6.15)] and in MBI scores [WMD = 10.66, 95% CI (9.55, 11.77)]. Moreover, the SSETG showed a greater improvement in ARAT scores compared to the CSETG [WMD = 2.70, 95% CI (1.81, 3.59)]. Conclusion: This review suggests earlier post-stroke exercise may improve functional outcomes (FMA, BBS, MBI, ARAT). However, due to heterogeneity and inclusion of observational studies, findings should be interpreted cautiously. High-quality RCTs are needed to confirm the optimal timing. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024519257, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42024519257).
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