Efficacy of interventions aimed at improving physical activity in individuals with stroke: a systematic review
Creators: name: Aguiar, Larissa Tavares
name: Nadeau, Sylvie
name: Martins, Júlia Caetano
name: Teixeira-Salmela, Luci Fuscaldi
name: Britto, Raquel Rodrigues
name: Faria, Christina Danielli Coelho De Morais
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: <b>Purpose:</b> To identify interventions employed to increase post-stroke physical activity, evaluate their efficacy, and identify the gaps in literature. <b>Materials and methods:</b> Randomized controlled trials published until March 2018 were searched in MEDLINE, PEDro, EMBASE, LILACS, and SCIELO databases. The quality of each study and overall quality of evidence were assessed using the PEDro and the GRADE scales. <b>Results:</b> Eighteen studies were included (good PEDro and very low GRADE-scores). In seven, the experimental groups showed significant increases in physical activity (aerobics, resistance, and home-based training; counseling, aerobics, resistance, and home-based training; electrical stimulation during walking; functional-task training; robot-assisted arm therapy; accelerometer-based feedback, and physical activity encouragement). In seven, there were no significant between-group differences (physical activity plan; stretching, use of toe-spreaders, standard treatment; counseling; circuit video-game; functional-task; counseling and cognitive training). The combined experimental and control groups showed significant declines in physical activity in one study (aerobic training or stretching) and increases in three others (aerobic, resistance or sham resistance training; stroke-with advice or only stroke-counseling; aerobic training, educational sessions, standard treatment, and coaching, or mobilization and standard treatment). A meta-analysis could not be performed, due to heterogeneity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Some interventions improved physical activity after stroke. However, the interpretability is limited.Implications for rehabilitationIndividuals with stroke show low physical activity, which may compromise function and health.The use of interventions aimed at improving and maintaining physical activity of individuals with stroke are recommended.Some interventions, such as aerobic, resistance, and combined home-based training, electrical stimulation during walking, functional task training, and arm robot-assisted therapy, could improve the physical activity after stroke. Individuals with stroke show low physical activity, which may compromise function and health. The use of interventions aimed at improving and maintaining physical activity of individuals with stroke are recommended. Some interventions, such as aerobic, resistance, and combined home-based training, electrical stimulation during walking, functional task training, and arm robot-assisted therapy, could improve the physical activity after stroke.