Ottawa panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for post-stroke rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this project was to create guidelines for 13 types of physical rehabilitation interventions used in the management of adult patients (>18 years of age) presenting with hemiplegia or hemiparesis following a single clinically identifiable ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident (CVA).


METHODS
Using Cochrane Collaboration methods, the Ottawa Methods Group identified and synthesized evidence from comparative controlled trials. The group then formed an expert panel, which developed a set of criteria for grading the strength of the evidence and the recommendation. Patient-important outcomes were determined through consensus, provided that these outcomes were assessed with a validated and reliable scale.


RESULTS
The Ottawa Panel developed 147 positive recommendations of clinical benefit concerning the use of different types of physical rehabilitation interventions involved in post-stroke rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Ottawa Panel recommends the use of therapeutic exercise, task-oriented training, biofeedback, gait training, balance training, constraint-induced movement therapy, treatment of shoulder subluxation, electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, acupuncture, and intensity and organization of rehabilitation in the management of post stroke.
Khadilkar
Amole
A
Phillips
Karin
K
Jean
Nathalie
N
Lamothe
Catherine
C
Milne
Sarah
S
Sarnecka
Joanna
J
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy