Comparison between Erigo tilt-table exercise and conventional physiotherapy exercises in acute stroke patients: a randomized trial.
Suraj Kumar, Ramakant Yadav, Aafreen
PMID 32042447WHAT IT FOUND
Erigo tilt-table therapy improved quality of life, lower limb strength, and stroke severity scores more than conventional physiotherapy at 90 days.
Both groups improved over time, but the tilt-table group showed greater gains in these specific areas.
Key findings
01At 90 days, the Erigo group had significantly higher quality of life and lower limb muscle strength scores compared to the conventional therapy group.
02Stroke severity (NIHSS) was significantly lower in the Erigo group compared to the conventional group at the 90-day follow-up.
03Muscle tone (Ashworth scale) improved significantly more in the Erigo group than the conventional group at 30 days, but this difference was not significant at 90 days.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study did not blind participants or therapists to the intervention, which could influence subjective outcomes like quality of life. Follow-up was limited to 90 days, so long-term effects are unknown. The sample size, while adequate for the primary comparisons, may not detect smaller differences in secondary outcomes. The conventional therapy protocol was extensive, but the comparison relies on the specific implementation of the Erigo protocol described.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research. No other conflicts of interest are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the Erigo tilt-table is superior for all outcomes. The study found no significant difference between groups for upper limb strength or cognitive function (MMSE), and the advantage in muscle tone seen at 30 days did not persist significantly at 90 days.