Walking Training and Functioning Among Elderly Persons With Stroke: Results of a Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine if 65- to 85-year-old persons who had a stroke within the previous 3-36 months can improve functioning and quality of life during walking rehabilitation.

Design: Prospective cohort study with 6-month follow-up.

Setting: Three inpatient rehabilitation centers and one outpatient rehabilitation center.

Evidence for the effectiveness of walking training on walking and self-care after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To examine the effect of randomized controlled trials of walking training on walking and self-care in patients with stroke.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro, OTSeeker, Central, and manual search to the end of August 2012.

Study Selection: English, Finnish, Swedish, or German language walking training randomized controlled trials for patients over 18 years of age with stroke.

Effects of physiotherapy interventions on balance in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To determine the effects of physiotherapy interventions on balance in people with multiple sclerosis.

Data Sources: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, Cinahl, Embase, PEDro, both electronically and by manual search up to March 2011.

Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials of physiotherapy interventions in people with multiple sclerosis, with an outcome measure linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) category of "Changing and maintaining body position", were included.

Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy on activity and participation after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To examine the effect of constraint-induced movement therapy and modified constraint-induced movement therapy on activity and participation of patients with stroke (i.e. the effect of different treatment durations and frequency) by reviewing the results of randomized controlled trials.

Effects of intensive therapy using gait trainer or floor walking exercises early after stroke.

Objective: To analyse the effects of gait therapy for patients after acute stroke in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with a mean of 8 days post-stroke participated in: (i) gait trainer exercise; (ii) walking training over ground; or (iii) conventional treatment. Patients in the gait trainer exercise and walking groups practiced gait for 15 sessions over 3 weeks and received additional physiotherapy.

Interference of short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF).

Objective: Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is a widely used paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measure to assess inhibition in human motor cortex. However, facilitatory processes may contaminate SICI under certain conditions. Here, we specifically address the contribution of short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF).

Gait reveals bilateral adaptation of motor control in patients with chronic unilateral stroke.

Background And Aims: Functional brain imaging has shown that bilateral brain reorganization may occur after unilateral cerebral damage. The present study searched for evidence of bilateral motor control changes in gait in patients with chronic unilateral stroke.

Methods: Gait variables (temporal and spatial parameters, footprint peak times (FPPT) and footfall times (FFT)) were recorded in 48 patients with chronic unilateral stroke at their preferred speed, and in 10 healthy volunteers walking from very slowly to very fast on a pressure sensor walkway.

Effects of intensive gait-oriented physiotherapy during early acute phase of stroke.

We assessed the effects and strenuousness of intensive gait-oriented inpatient rehabilitation initiated very early after stroke. Therapy content and interrater reliability of the assessments were also analyzed. Of 22 patients, 19 (average 8.

Postural instability in patients with chronic stroke.

Purpose: It is known that visuospatial orientation and the extent of spontaneous recovery vary between right or left hemisphere affected stroke patients. We hypothesized that the right hemisphere affected chronic patients would show more impaired static balance than left hemisphere affected patients. The purpose of the study was to assess displacement of the center of pressure (COP) of ambulatory patients with either left or right hemiparesis.

Footprint peak time and functional ambulation profile reflect the potential for hemiparetic gait recovery.

Objective: Gait disturbances were monitored in patients with chronic stroke with a walkway built with pressure sensors in order to assess whether detailed gait and footprint information could provide verification for the potential for gait recovery.

Methods: Gait variables (footprint peak times, temporal and spatial parameters and Functional Ambulation Profile, FAP, scores), were first recorded in 25 patients with chronic stroke at their preferred speed and 10 healthy volunteers walking from very slow to very fast. Patients and controls were divided into four groups based on the velocity performance.

The effectiveness of body weight-supported gait training and floor walking in patients with chronic stroke.

Objective: To compare body weight-supported exercise on a gait trainer with walking exercise overground.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation hospital.

Gait characteristics after gait-oriented rehabilitation in chronic stroke.

Purpose: To assess the effects of rehabilitation in thirty-seven ambulatory patients with chronic stroke during three weeks in-patient rehabilitation period.

Methods: In the intervention group, each patient received 75 min physiotherapy daily every workday including 20 minutes in the electromechanical gait trainer with body-weight support (BWS). In the control group, each patient participated in 45 min conventional physiotherapy daily.

How much exercise does the enhanced gait-oriented physiotherapy provide for chronic stroke patients?

Background And Purpose: Physical exercise therapy in sensorimotor rehabilitation of stroke patients includes active and repetitive exercise and task-specific training. The time spent in active practice is fundamental. The purpose of this study was to analyse what was the actual amount of exercise and content of the performed exercise of the three-week gait-oriented physiotherapy program for chronic stroke patients in an in-patient setting.