Body weight supported gait training on walking, quality of life and harm in adults with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To investigate the effects and harms associated with body weight supported (BWS) gait training in adults with stroke according to measures of walking, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and adverse events.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of BWS gait training in adults with stroke. CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched from inception to December 2023. Aquatic interventions were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool.
A total of 102 studies (5290 participants) were included. Compared with conventional therapy control conditions, BWS gait training was favoured for walking function (0.69 points out of 15 on Functional Mobility Index [95% CI, 0.40; 0.95]), walking speed (0.27 m/s on 10-m walk test [95% CI, 0.17; 0.37]), walking capacity (29.7 m on 6-min walk test [95% CI, 9.9; 48.5]), walking pattern (4.99 degrees out of 100 on Gait Profile Score [95% CI, 3.08; 6.86]), and HRQoL (3.92 units out of 100 on Short Form 36 Physical Component [95% CI, 1.07; 6.68]). No adverse effects were identified.
BWS gait training appears safe and produces positive effects on measures of walking and HRQoL, with a low to very low certainty of evidence.

Body weight supported gait training improves measures of walking and quality of life in adults with stroke.
Body weight supported gait training is safe with no adverse effects related to the intervention.
The effect of body weight supported gait training is dependent on the type of unloading mechanism, and even low training volumes can yield improvements in walking function.
Rehabilitation professionals can safely utilise body weight supporting technologies to enhance the effectiveness of gait rehabilitation in adults with stroke.

Body weight supported gait training improves measures of walking and quality of life in adults with stroke.
Body weight supported gait training is safe with no adverse effects related to the intervention.
The effect of body weight supported gait training is dependent on the type of unloading mechanism, and even low training volumes can yield improvements in walking function.
Rehabilitation professionals can safely utilise body weight supporting technologies to enhance the effectiveness of gait rehabilitation in adults with stroke.