PMID- 32539311 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20210412 LR - 20210412 IS - 1973-9095 (Electronic) IS - 1973-9087 (Linking) VI - 56 IP - 6 DP - 2020 Dec TI - The use of shoulder orthoses post-stroke: effects on balance and gait. A systematic review. PG - 695-705 LID - 10.23736/S1973-9087.20.06332-7 [doi] AB - INTRODUCTION: Since there is no clear conclusion concerning the use of arm slings in the prevention or reduction of shoulder subluxation or shoulder pain in stroke patients, it seems important to explore other potentially beneficial effects. Earlier research already suggested that the upper limb might play a considerable role in efficient balance and gait in stroke patients. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of wearing an arm sling on balance and/or gait in stroke patients. This information could support the decision-making concerning the use of shoulder orthoses after stroke. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Four electronic databases (Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL/EBSCO) were searched until April 8(th), 2019. Search alerts were set and followed until January 2020 to assure no new eligible articles were published. Reference lists of included studies were hand searched. All studies examining the effect of wearing an upper limb orthosis on balance and gait in stroke patients were included. Two reviewers independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. The methodological quality of included trials was assessed using the QualSyst assessment tool for quantitative studies. Prospero registration number: CRD42019130282. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Ten studies, examining 283 stroke patients with moderate to low level of upper limb impairment, were included in the quantitative synthesis of the results. The pooled mean time since stroke was 21.88+/-9.03 months. Only minor effects on balance or gait related outcome parameters could be detected in favor of wearing an arm sling. However, these changes did not exceed the minimal clinical important difference (MCID). CONCLUSIONS: So far no strong evidence is available regarding a potential benefit of wearing an arm sling on balance and gait for stroke patients. However, further research with longer intervention periods, can be useful to determine if stroke patients in the early phases after stroke or with persistent UL paresis might possibly benefit from wearing an arm sling. FAU - VAN Bladel, Anke AU - VAN Bladel A AD - Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium - anke.vanbladel@ugent.be. AD - Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium - anke.vanbladel@ugent.be. FAU - Cambier, Dirk AU - Cambier D AD - Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. FAU - Lefeber, Nina AU - Lefeber N AD - Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. FAU - Oostra, Kristine AU - Oostra K AD - Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. AD - Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Systematic Review DEP - 20200616 PL - Italy TA - Eur J Phys Rehabil Med JT - European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine JID - 101465662 SB - IM MH - Gait Disorders, Neurologic/*physiopathology MH - Humans MH - *Orthotic Devices MH - Postural Balance/*physiology MH - Stroke Rehabilitation/*instrumentation MH - Upper Extremity/*physiopathology EDAT- 2020/06/17 06:00 MHDA- 2021/04/13 06:00 CRDT- 2020/06/17 06:00 PHST- 2020/06/17 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2021/04/13 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2020/06/17 06:00 [entrez] AID - S1973-9087.20.06332-7 [pii] AID - 10.23736/S1973-9087.20.06332-7 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2020 Dec;56(6):695-705. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.20.06332-7. Epub 2020 Jun 16.