[Evidence-based rehabilitation of mobility after stroke]

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Physical Therapy
• Stroke Recovery

Background:

• Approximately two-thirds of stroke survivors experience impaired mobility.
• Various rehabilitation strategies exist to address post-stroke functional deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify recommended rehabilitation methods for improving gait, gait velocity, gait distance, and balance after stroke.
• To synthesize current literature on effective stroke rehabilitation interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for randomized clinical studies and reviews.
• Analysis of clinically relevant outcome variables related to gait and balance.
• Formulation of evidence-based recommendations categorized by target variable and time post-stroke.

Main Results:

• Gait function restoration necessitates high repetition of gait movements, often machine-based for severe impairments.
• Intensive gait training can improve gait velocity in less affected patients without mandatory mechanical support.
• Gait distance improves with aerobic endurance exercises in a functional context.
• Balance enhancement is achieved through intensive functional gait training.
• Ancillary stimulation techniques are effective only within functionally relevant training programs.

Conclusions:

• Provides actionable recommendations for stroke rehabilitation.
• Offers pathophysiological insights into the functional restoration of stance and gait post-stroke.