Outcome of motor training programmes on arm and hand functioning in patients with cervical spinal cord injury according to different levels of the ICF: a systematic review.

Objective: To investigate the outcome of motor training programmes on arm and hand functioning in patients with cervical spinal cord injury according to different levels of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A search of the following databases: Medline, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) from 1976 to August 2008 was performed using the following MeSH terms: Spinal Cord Injuries, Quadriplegia, Rehabilitation, Physical Education and Training, Exercise, Patient-Centered Care, Upper Extremity, Activities of Daily Living, Motor Skills, Motor Activity, Intervention Studies, Clinical Trial.