A randomized trial evaluation of the Oswestry Standing Frame for patients after stroke.
BACKGROUND
Standing is believed to have benefits in addressing motor and sensory impairments after stroke. One device to facilitate standing for severely disabled patients is the Oswestry Standing Frame.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Oswestry Standing Frame for severely disabled stroke patients.


METHODS
A single centre, randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
An inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit.


METHODS
Patients were recruited if they had a clinical diagnosis of stroke, were medically stable and unable to achieve any score on the Trunk Control Test or unable to stand in mid-line without the assistance of two therapists.


METHODS
The intervention (n = 71) and control (n = 69) groups both received usual stroke unit care but the intervention group also received a minimum of 14 consecutive days' treatment using the standing frame.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI). Secondary measures included the Barthel Index; the Rivermead Motor Assessment; the balanced sitting and sitting to standing components of the Motor Assessment Scale; the Trunk Control Test and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Blind assessment was undertaken at baseline, six weeks, 12 weeks and six months post stroke. Information on resource use was also collected.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference between groups in any of the outcome measures or for resource use. Mann-Whitney U-tests for the RMI change from baseline scores to six weeks, 12 weeks and six months post stroke were p = 0.310; p = 0.970 and p = 0.282, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of the Oswestry Standing Frame did not improve clinical outcome or provide resource savings for this severely disabled patient group.
Bagley
Pam
P
School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford BD5 0BB, UK. P.J.Bagley@Bradford.ac.uk
Hudson
Mary
M
Forster
Anne
A
Smith
Jane
J
Young
John
J
D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation