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(Stroke. 2008;39:519.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cochrane Corner

Physiotherapy Treatment Approaches for Stroke

Alex Pollock, PhD, MCSP; Gillian D. Baer, BSc, MCSP; Peter Langhorne, PhD, MRCP Valerie M. Pomeroy, PhD, MCSP

From the Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (A.P., P.L.), Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK; Queen Margaret University (G.D.B.), Edinburgh, UK; and University of East Anglia (V.M.P.), UK.

Correspondence to Alex Pollock, Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, University Block, Room 34, Level 2, Glasgow, G31 2ER UK. E-mail alex@strokerehab.fsnet.co.uk

Graeme J. Hankey MD, FRCP Section Editor:

Key Words: physiotherapy • rehabilitation • stroke

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
There are several different approaches to physiotherapy treatment after stroke. These can broadly be divided into approaches that are based on neurophysiological, motor learning, or orthopaedic principles. Some physiotherapists base their treatment on a single approach, whereas others use a mixture of components from a number of different approaches. The practical application of these approaches can result in substantial differences in patient treatment. At present, the Bobath Approach, based on neurophysiological principles, probably remains the most widely used approach in the Western world.^1–5 However, there is a lack of convincing evidence to support any specific physiotherapy treatment approach.^3,6 This systematic review aims to assess the effects of physiotherapy treatment if it is based on orthopaedic, motor learning, or neurophysiological principles, or on a mixture of these treatment principles.

	Methods

 
We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched May 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to May 2005), EMBASE (1980 to May 2005), and CINAHL (1982 to May 2005). We contacted experts and researchers with an interest in stroke rehabilitation.

We considered randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of physiotherapy treatment approaches aimed at promoting the recovery of postural control and lower limb function in adult participants with a clinical diagnosis of stroke. Outcomes included measures of disability (global dependency scales or functional independence scales) and motor impairment (relating to postural control or lower limb function). Two review authors independently categorized the identified trials according to the inclusion and exclusion . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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