A biomedical decision support system for meta-analysis of bilateral upper-limb training in stroke patients with hemiplegia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of bilateral upper-limb training (BULT) in helping people with upper-limb impairments due to stroke or brain illness regain their previous level of function. Patients recuperating from a stroke or cerebral disease were given the option of undergoing BULT or conventional training to enhance their upper-limb function. Participants were randomly allocated to one of the several different fitness programs. Results from the action research arm test, Box and block test, Wolf motor function test, Fugal–Meyer evaluation, and any other tests administered were taken into account. Some researchers have found that exercising with BULT for just 30 min per day for 6 weeks yields significant results. There were a total of 1,411 individuals from 10 randomized controlled trials included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis findings revealed that biofeedback treatment outperformed conventional rehabilitation therapy in reducing lower leg muscular strain, complete spasm scale score, electromyography score, and inactive ankle joint range of motion. An analysis of the literature found that BULT improved limb use in people who had suffered a stroke and hemiplegia but it did not provide any additional benefit over unilateral training.

Keywords

• stroke
• bilateral upper-limb training
• unilateral training
• meta-analysis