400 Section - The Landscape of Stroke Motor and Cognitive Rehabilitation RCTs Conducted in in Canada

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

Robert W. Teasell, MD, FRCPC

Professor
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada., Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London
London, Ontario, Canada

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

JC

Joy Chowdhury, BHSc

Student
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

MQ

Mohammad Reza Safaei Qomi, MD

Clinical Research Assistant
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
CF

Cecilia Flores-Sandoval, PhD

Research Coordinator
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London
London, Ontario, Canada
BL

Benjamin Luebke, n/a

Student
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada.
London, Ontario, Canada
BG

Brooke Gelinas, BSc

Student
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
AH

Areeb Hassan, MSc

Student
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
MC

Michelle Chow, MSc

Student
Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
SP

Sean P. Dukelow, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Professor
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Calgary, Ontario, Canada
SM

Sarvenaz Mehrabi, MD

Senior Researcher
Parkwood Hospital, Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare London
London, Ontario, Canada

Objectives : Stroke is the third largest contributor to disability-adjusted life years worldwide. In Canada, stroke rehab research benefits from well-established organizations, funding agencies and academic networks. However, there is no comprehensive synthesis of Canadian stroke rehab trials. This systematic review evaluates the landscape of motor and cognitive trials.

Design: Five databases (CINAHL, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase) were searched from inception to December 31, 2024. Studies were included if they (1) were English-language parallel or crossover randomized controlled trials (RCTs), (2) examined adult (≥ 18 yr) participants with ≥50% affected by ischemic/ hemorrhagic stroke; and (3) used a stroke rehabilitation intervention as the primary objective of the study. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data, with a third reviewer for consensus. The study quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale.

Results: Of 3602 global stroke motor and cognitive rehab studies, 107 were Canadian (3%). Mean sample size was 49.4 subjects (versus 51.4 globally), mean PEDro score was 6.1 (vs. 6.2) and the majority of RCTs (67.3%) were conducted in the chronic phase ( > 6 months post stroke) (vs. 50.6% globally). Average female recruitment was 38.1% (vs. 39.4% globally). Most common interventions studied were exercise protocols, aerobic exercise, task-specific training, feedback training, strength training and virtual reality training. Most common outcome measures used were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, 6-Minute Walk Test, Trail Making Tests, and Grip Strength. Relative to global use, Canadian RCTs used more often the Chedoke McMaster Stroke Assessment Scale, UE Performance Test for the Elderly, 5-Meter Walk Test, and VO2 Max/Peak.

Conclusion: Canadian stroke rehabilitation RCTs account for a small amount of total global output, with the majority being small studies, with female recruitment under 40%. Most RCTs were conducted in the chronic phase, and outcome measures continue to be heterogeneous.