ABSTRACT

Objective : This paper aims to investigate the usage frequency of interventions for promoting the upper limb recovery of stroke patients. For this purpose, published articles were analysed using the PICO principle. Methods : For the main key words of a database search,“ (stroke OR CVA) AND (hand OR upper OR shoulder) AND intervention”were used. We systematically examined papers published in journals from January 2008 to April 2011, using PubMed and MEDLINE. Fifty-two studies (randomized controlled trials) were included in the analyses. Results : The number of discovered interventions for promoting the upper limb recovery of stroke patients was 20, with a frequency of 56. The frequency of use is Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy at 12; electrical stimulation, 10; bilateral arm training, 7; strength exercise & robotic therapy, 4; and virtual reality, 3. The articles (Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, electrical stimulation) were analyzed based on patient,intervention, comparison, and outcome using the PICO principle. Conclusion : This paper conducted a systematic review of research articles reporting on the intervention used to promote the upper limb recovery of stroke patients over the past 3 years. This research is also expected to help select a subject, intervention, duration, and assessment according to the characteristics of the individual.