Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
08:53
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
2.0K
Early Sitting in Ischemic Stroke Patients (SEVEL): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Fanny Herisson1, Sophie Godard2, Christelle Volteau3
1Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
Plos One
|March 30, 2016
Summary
Early mobilization for ischemic stroke patients by sitting them up within one day of stroke onset showed no significant difference in outcomes compared to delayed sitting. This study suggests early sitting is unlikely to have a major impact on stroke recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Extended immobility during hospitalization is linked to medical complications.
- Clear recommendations for mobilizing ischemic stroke patients are lacking.
- Early mobilization is recognized as feasible and safe in general patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that early sitting improves outcomes for acute ischemic stroke patients.
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of early mobilization strategies in stroke care.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized controlled multicenter study (NCT01573299) comparing two sitting protocols in acute ischemic stroke.
- Early-sitting group: mobilized within one day of stroke onset.
- Progressively-sitting group: mobilized on the third day post-stroke.
- Primary outcome: modified Rankin Scale score [0-2] at 3 months; secondary outcomes: medical complications, hospital stay, and procedure tolerance.
Main Results:
- 138 patients (63 early-sitting, 75 progressively-sitting) were analyzed.
- No significant difference in 3-month modified Rankin Scale scores between groups (76.2% vs. 77.3%, p=0.52).
- No significant differences observed in secondary outcomes; procedures were well-tolerated.
Conclusions:
- Limited patient enrollment affected statistical power to detect smaller effects (only +/- 15% differences).
- The study ruled out large effect sizes (>25%) for early sitting on stroke outcomes.
- Results suggest early sitting has minimal impact, guiding future acute stroke rehabilitation and clinical trial designs.
