Optimal exercise modalities for post-intervention motor function changes in stroke survivors: a pairwise and network meta-analysis.
Liqun Jiang, Huimin Ding, Hyun Seo and 1 others
PMID 41163210WHAT IT FOUND
Resistance training best preserved walking endurance, and robotic training best preserved walking speed after stroke rehab ended.
However, no exercise modality significantly improved balance or limb motor control during follow-up, suggesting gains in these areas often fade without continued supervision.
Key findings
01Resistance training showed the most sustained improvement in the 6-Minute Walk Test, with a mean difference of 21.79 meters compared to routine care.
02Robotic-assisted training demonstrated the greatest improvement in the 10-Meter Walk Test, with a mean difference of 0.06 meters per second.
03For balance (Berg Balance Scale) and limb motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment), no intervention showed statistically significant improvements during the follow-up phase.
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 quality of evidence was predominantly moderate to low, with many comparisons downgraded for imprecision and risk of bias. Blinding of participants and therapists was impossible in most trials, which may have influenced outcomes, particularly for subjective measures like balance. The number of studies reporting on upper and lower limb motor function (Fugl-Meyer) was small, leading to wide confidence intervals and inconclusive results for these outcomes. Follow-up durations varied widely (2 weeks to 48 months), making it difficult to generalize the timing of functional decline or maintenance.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was not funded by a commercial entity selling the interventions.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of significant findings for balance and limb motor function as proof that these exercises do not work. The authors note that the limited number of trials and wide confidence intervals mean these results are inconclusive rather than negative.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →