title: Evidence for the effectiveness of walking training on walking and self-care after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of randomized controlled trials of walking training on walking and self-care in patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro, OTSeeker, Central, and manual search to the end of August 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  English, Finnish, Swedish, or German language walking training randomized controlled trials for patients over 18 years of age with stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The meta-analyses included 38 randomized controlled trials from 44 reports. There was high evidence that in the subacute stage of stroke, specific walking training resulted in improved walking speed and distance compared with traditional walking training of the same intensity. In the chronic stage, walking training resulted in increased walking speed and walking distance compared with no/placebo treatment, and increased walking speed compared with overall physio-therapy. On average, 24 training sessions for 7 weeks were needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking training improves walking capacity and, to some extent, self-care in different stages of stroke, but the training frequency should be fairly high.
authors.affiliation: Validia Rehabilitation Lahti, Launeenkatu 10 , FI 15100 Lahti, Finland. sinikka.peurala@validia.fi, sinikka.peurala@gmail.com, Sinikka.Peurala@invalidiliitto.fi.
authors.forename: Sinikka H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Peurala
authors.forename: Auli H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Karttunen
authors.forename: Tuulikki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sjögren
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paltamaa
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking