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Published on: February 22, 2020
Motor recovery after stroke: a systematic review
Peter Langhorne1, Fiona Coupar, Alex Pollock
1Stroke Therapy Evaluation Programme, Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences Division, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. p.langhorne@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
The Lancet. Neurology
|July 18, 2009
Summary
This review highlights effective stroke motor recovery interventions. High-intensity, task-specific training, including constraint-induced movement therapy and robotics, shows promise for improving arm function and walking.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Stroke Recovery
- Movement Science
Background:
- Loss of functional movement is a frequent outcome following stroke.
- Numerous interventions exist to address motor deficits post-stroke.
- Evidence quality varies due to trial design limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing evidence on interventions for motor recovery after stroke.
- To evaluate systematic reviews and recent randomized controlled trials.
- To identify promising therapeutic approaches for stroke survivors.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of interventions for motor recovery.
- Inclusion of recent randomized controlled trials.
- Evaluation of evidence for arm function, balance, and walking recovery.
Main Results:
- Constraint-induced movement therapy, electromyographic biofeedback, mental practice with motor imagery, and robotics improved arm function.
- Repetitive task training, biofeedback, and moving platform training enhanced balance and transfer ability.
- Physical fitness, high-intensity therapy, and repetitive task training improved walking speed.
Conclusions:
- Despite limitations in trial design, several interventions demonstrate potential for motor recovery.
- High-intensity and task-specific repetitive practice are particularly promising.
- Further high-quality research is needed to confirm efficacy.
