title: Systematic review of outcome measures of walking training using electromechanical and robotic devices in patients with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this systematic review was to identify appropriate selection criteria of clinical scales for future trials, starting from those most commonly reported in the literature, according to their psychometric properties and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized literature research of articles was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINALH, PubMed, PsychINFO and Scopus databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trials evaluating the effects of electromechanical and robot-assisted gait training trials in stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen independent authors performed an extensive literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 45 scales was identified from 27 studies involving 966 subjects. The most commonly used outcome measures were: Functional Ambulation Category (18 studies), 10-Meter Walking Test (13 studies), Motricity Index (12 studies), 6-Minute Walking Test (11 studies), Rivermead Mobility Index (8 studies) and Berg Balance Scale (8 studies). According to the ICF domains 1 outcome measure was categorized into Body Function and Structure, 5 into Activity and none into Participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most commonly used scales evaluated the basic components of walking. Future studies should also include instrumental evaluation. Criteria for scale selection should be based on the ICF framework, psychometric properties and patient characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Neuromotor and Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Centre (CRRNC), Department of Neurological, and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy. E-mail: christian.geroin@univr.it.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geroin
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzoleni
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smania
authors.forename: Marialuisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonaiuti
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munari
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldner
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spidalieri
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bovolenta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picelli
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Posteraro
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschini
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D011594:Psychometrics; D012371:Robotics; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking