Targeted ankle proprioceptive training improves balance, gait, and functional mobility in chronic stroke survivors: a multicenter randomized controlled trial with longitudinal follow-up.

The study relied on specialized robotic devices, which may limit accessibility and generalizability to settings without this equipment. The intervention intensity (180 minutes per week) exceeds typical outpatient care, potentially limiting direct clinical translation without increased resources. The longitudinal subsample used convenience sampling, which may introduce selection bias. The trial was retrospectively registered, which reduces methodological transparency and raises the possibility of outcome switching, although the authors state endpoints remained consistent with their internal protocol. Treating researchers were not blinded due to the nature of the intervention delivery, though outcome assessors were blinded.

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Do not assume these results are directly applicable to standard clinical practice without the specific robotic equipment and high treatment intensity used in the trial. The large effect sizes may reflect the high sensitivity of this population to mechanism-driven sensory challenges compared to non-specific motor training, and the retrospective registration introduces some uncertainty about the pre-specified outcomes.