Self-Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Motor Function and Activity-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Evidence-based practice
• Stroke recovery

Background:

• Rising stroke incidence necessitates effective, prolonged rehabilitation strategies.
• Resource limitations hinder conventional rehabilitation access for many stroke survivors.
• Self-rehabilitation programs offer a scalable solution to meet rehabilitation demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of self-rehabilitation versus conventional therapy for motor outcomes in stroke patients.
• To explore factors influencing self-rehabilitation effectiveness, including trial location, technology, stroke stage, dose, and intervention design.

Main Methods:

• Systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a PEDro score ≥5.
• Inclusion criteria: adult stroke participants, self-rehabilitation intervention, conventional therapy control, motor function/activity outcomes.
• Quantitative synthesis of data from 35 trials involving 2225 participants.

Main Results:

• Self-rehabilitation demonstrated comparable effectiveness to conventional therapy for motor outcomes.
• No significant influence on outcomes was observed based on trial location, technology use, stroke stage, or intervention design.
• Median PEDro Score of included trials was 7, indicating good methodological quality.

Conclusions:

• Low to moderate evidence supports the equal value of self-rehabilitation and conventional therapy for post-stroke motor function.
• Self-rehabilitation presents a viable and effective option for enhancing motor recovery in stroke survivors.
• Further research may refine optimal implementation strategies for self-rehabilitation programs.