Impact of community-based rehabilitation on the physical functioning and activity of daily living of stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed at establishing the impact of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) on the physical functioning and activity of daily living (ADL) of patients with stroke (PWS).

Materials and methods

Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an electronic search was conducted in five databases, including PubMed, OVID Embase, OVID Medline, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science between May 2010 and 2020. Meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2 software to establish whether the studies were sufficiently homogenous.

Results

Twenty studies out of 828 publications were included in the present systematic review. A significant difference between CBR intervention and control groups was identified about the physical functional capacity in mobility, 6-metre walk test (6MWT) (g = 0.351, 95% CI (0.110, 0.592)), community walking test (g= −0.473, 95% CI (−0.926, −0.020)) and on the other hand a significant improvement in ADL was found (g = 0.138, 95% CI(0.051, 0.224)).

Conclusions

CBR is revealed to be effective in improving the physical functioning and ADL for PWS and is drawn based on eligible studies which were conducted in high-income countries (HICs). This highlights a gap between developed and less-resourced countries as far as CBR for PWS is concerned and calls for a further study. Protocol Registration: CRD42020159683

Implication for rehabilitation

• Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is recommended as one of the best programme for treating stroke patients with stroke (PWS) after they are discharged from hospitals.

• CBR is effective in improving the physical functioning and activity of daily living of PWS.

• Further research should be carried out to compare between CBR and institution-based rehabilitation for PWS, especially the less-resourced settings which are grappling with a challenge of limited skilled rehabilitation professionals.

Keywords:

• Community-based rehabilitation
• physical functioning
• stroke
• activity of daily living
• systematic review

Ethical approval

There are no ethical considerations.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest.