Skip to main content

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Stroke
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1503585

Optimal Proprioceptive Training Combined with Rehabilitation Regimen for Lower Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Provisionally accepted
Kaiqi Zheng Kaiqi Zheng 1Li Li Li Li 2Yahui Zhou Yahui Zhou 3Xiaokun Gong Xiaokun Gong 1Gangbin Zheng Gangbin Zheng 1Liang Guo Liang Guo 1*
  • 1 South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
  • 2 Georgia Southern University, Georgia, United States
  • 3 Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: This study aims to evaluate the optimal rehabilitation regimen for lower limb dysfunction in stroke patients by analyzing the effects of proprioceptive training (PT) in combination with different rehabilitation interventions. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to April 23, 2024, were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB 2.0). Network meta-analysis was performed via R studio and STATA 15.0. Results: A total of 64 RCTs involving 4,084 stroke patients with lower limb dysfunction were included. For balance ability in stroke patients, PT in combination with motor relearning program (PT+MRP) demonstrated the optimal rehabilitation effect [surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 77.94%]. For lower limb motor function, PT in combination with close kinematic chain exercises (PT+CKCE) was most effective (SUCRA 88.39%). For walking ability, PT in combination with visual feedback training (PT+VFT) was superior (SUCRA 96.61%). Cluster analysis indicated that PT+CKCE and PT+RT1 were the optimal rehabilitation regimens for lower limb dysfunction in stroke patients. Conclusion: PT+MRP was the optimal rehabilitation regimen for improving balance ability in stroke patients; PT+CKCE was the best for enhancing lower limb motor function; and PT+VFT was most effective for improving walking ability. Overall, PT+CKCE and PT+RT1 represented the optimal rehabilitation regimens for lower limb dysfunction in stroke patients, while PT+RT1 is most effective within five days of stroke onset. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024548889

    Keywords: Stroke, Proprioceptive training, Lower limb function, network metaanalysis, close kinematic chain exercises

    Received: 29 Sep 2024; Accepted: 02 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zheng, Li, Zhou, Gong, Zheng and Guo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Liang Guo, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.