Eligibility Criteria

Objectives were defined according to the PICO model (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome type). The population of interest was adults post-stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic). Interventions considered were rehabilitation treatment performed by means of the Lokomat® robotic device, with no restrictions on the setting (inpatients and outpatients). Comparison groups included other rehabilitation methods (conventional physiotherapy and/or treadmill) (see Table 2 for a description of control therapies). Outcome considered was balance control, assessed by means of standardized clinical scales (44). Only studies written in English were considered.

Exclusion criteria were study design other than randomized controlled trial (RCT), studies involving subjects suffering from neurological diseases other than stroke, comparison of rehabilitation treatment performed by means of the Lokomat® with other unconventional therapies (e.g., electrical stimulation), studies with full text not available, non-peer-reviewed articles, congress abstracts/posters.