A randomized trial evaluation of the Oswestry Standing Frame for patients after stroke

Background: Standing is believed to have benefits in addressing motor and sensory impairments after stroke. One device to facilitate standing for severely disabled patients is the Oswestry Standing Frame.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Oswestry Standing Frame for severely disabled stroke patients.Design: A single centre, randomized controlled trial.Setting: An inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit.Subjects: Patients were recruited if they had a clinical diagnosis of stroke, were medically stable and unable to achieve any score on the Trunk Control Test or unable to stand in mid-line without the assistance of two therapists.Intervention: The intervention (n=71) and control (n=69) groups both received usual stroke unit care but the intervention group also received a minimum of 14 consecutive days' treatment using the standing frame.Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI). Secondary measures included the Barthel Index; the Rivermead Motor Asses...