Study selection
Experimental studies and observational studies, with an intervention or manipulation that aimed to improve upper limb coordination, during reach and grasp, in adults (aged 18 years or older), with a clinical diagnosis of stroke, were eligible for inclusion. Any measure of upper limb coordination was eligible for assessing the effectiveness of interventions. Studies could occur in any setting. Studies examining shoulder and elbow coordination were excluded if they did not involve the hand in an aspect of the task. Interventions could include reach and grasp or could be delivered as a separate treatment, as long as the aim was to improve hand and arm coordination for reach and grasp. Studies of bilateral arm training were included, but only if they involved measures of intra-limb coordination on the affected side.
Where reported, the mean age of patients ranged from 56.38 to 67 years; most studies contained more males than females (range 42% to 83% males). Just over half of the studies reported the type of stroke that patients had experienced, and most were ischaemic. Lesion locations varied across the study populations. The mean time since stroke at baseline varied from 5.3 to 54.7 months (where reported). The interventions were functional training, robot therapy, computerised training, biofeedback, or electrical stimulation.
Two reviewers independently selected studies; any discrepancies were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer.