title: Maximal Strength Training Enhances Strength and Functional Performance in Chronic Stroke Survivors CENTRAL, PEDro, PubMed, and EMBASE Are the Most Comprehensive Databases Indexing Randomized Controlled Trials of Physical Therapy Interventions
abstract: Objective This study aim ed to demonstrate that maximal strength training improves muscle strength and to assess the effect of training on function , aerobic status , and quality -of-life among chronic stroke survivors . Design Ten patients acted as their own controls for 4 wks , before an 8-week training intervention . Patients trained 3 days/wk , with four sets of four repetitions at 85%–95 % one repetition maximum in unilateral leg press and plantarflexion with an emphasis on maximal mobilization of force in the concentric phase . Results After training , leg press strength improved by 30.6 kg ( 75 % ) and 17.8 kg ( 86 % ) ; plantarflexion strength improved by 35.5 kg ( 89 % ) and 28.5 kg ( 223 % ) for the unaffected and affected limbs , respectively , significantly different from the control period ( all P < 0.01 ) . The 6-min walk test improved by 13.9 m ( within training period ; P = 0.01 ) , and the Timed Up and Go test time improved by 0.6 secs ( within training period ; P < 0.05 ) . There were no significant changes in walking economy , peak aerobic capacity , Four-Square Step Test , or health-related quality -of-life after training . Conclusions Maximal strength training improved muscle strength in the most affected as well as in the nonaffected leg and improved Timed-Up- And -Go time and 6-min walk distance but did not alter Four-Step Square Test time , aerobic status , or quality -of-life among chronic stroke survivors Background Many bibliographic data bases index research studies evaluating the effects of health care interventions . One study has concluded that the Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ( PEDro ) has the most complete indexing of reports of r and omized controlled trials of physical therapy interventions , but the design of that study may have exaggerated estimates of the completeness of indexing by PEDro . Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the completeness of indexing of reports of r and omized controlled trials of physical therapy interventions by 8 bibliographic data bases . Design This study was an audit of bibliographic data bases . Methods Prespecified criteria were used to identify 400 reports of r and omized controlled trials from the reference lists of systematic review s published in 2008 that evaluated physical therapy interventions .  Eight data bases ( AMED , CENTRAL , CINAHL , EMBASE , Hooked on Evidence , PEDro , PsycINFO , and PubMed ) were search ed for each trial report . The proportion of the 400 trial reports indexed by each data base was calculated . Results The proportions of the 400 trial reports indexed by the data bases were as follows : CENTRAL , 95 % ; PEDro , 92 % ; PubMed , 89 % ; EMBASE , 88 % ; CINAHL , 53 % ; AMED , 50 % ; Hooked on Evidence , 45 % ; and PsycINFO , 6 % . Almost all of the trial reports ( 99 % ) were found in at least 1 data base , and 88 % were indexed by 4 or more data bases . Four trial reports were uniquely indexed by a single data base only ( 2 in CENTRAL and 1 each in PEDro and PubMed ) . Limitations The results are only applicable to search ing for English- language published reports of r and omized controlled trials evaluating physical therapy interventions . Conclusions The 4 most comprehensive data bases of trial reports evaluating physical therapy interventions were CENTRAL , PEDro , PubMed , and EMBASE . Clinicians seeking quick answers to clinical questions could search any of these data bases knowing that all are reasonably comprehensive . PEDro , unlike the other 3 most complete data bases , is specific to physical therapy , so studies not relevant to physical therapy are less likely to be retrieved . Research ers could use CENTRAL , PEDro , PubMed , and EMBASE in combination to conduct exhaustive search es for r and omized trials in physical therapy
target: DISCUSSION This systematic review will provide information on which interventions are effective for increasing physical activity levels of stroke survivors .
background: INTRODUCTION Stroke is a leading health problem worldwide and an important cause of disability .
  Stroke survivors show low levels of physical activity , and increases in physical activity levels may improve function and health status .
  Therefore , the aims are to identify which interventions that have been employed to increase physical activity levels with stroke survivors , to verify their efficacy and to identify the gaps in the literature .