Evidence for the effectiveness of walking training on walking and self-care after stroke: a
systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Sammanfattning
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of randomized controlled trials of walking training on walking
and self-care in patients with stroke.
Data sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro, OTSeeker, Central, and manual search to the end
of August 2012.
Study selection: English, Finnish, Swedish, or German language walking training randomized
controlled trials for patients over 18 years of age with stroke.
Data synthesis: The meta-analyses included 38 randomized controlled trials from 44 reports. There
was high evidence that in the subacute stage of stroke, specific walking training resulted in improved
walking speed and distance compared with traditional walking training of the same intensity. In the
chronic stage, walking training resulted in increased walking speed and walking distance compared
with no/placebo treatment, and increased walking speed compared with overall physio-therapy. On
average, 24 training sessions for 7 weeks were needed.
CONCLUSION: Walking training improves walking capacity and, to some extent, self-care in different
stages of stroke, but the training frequency should be fairly high.