Table 1

Summary of findings

Outcome
(time frame)		No of participants (studies)Certainty of evidence (GRADE)ComparatorTraining versus control
Mean difference (95% CI)
Gait speed (m/s)
(3–4 weeks)		49
(2 RCTs)		⊕⊖⊖⊖
Very low*†‡		The mean gait speed after treadmill gait training without obstacle crossing in real-life situations ranged from 0.71 to 0.95 m/s0.03 m/s (95% CI −0.11 to 0.16) faster in the training group
Composite gait ability
TUG (s)
(4 weeks)		29
(1 RCT)		⊕⊕⊖⊖
Low*†		The mean time of TUG after treadmill gait training without obstacle crossing in real-life situations was 15.37 s0.15 s (95% CI −3.95 to 4.25) faster in the training group
Objective balance ability
BBS score
(4 weeks)
Scale: 0–56		29
(1 RCT)		⊕⊕⊖⊖
Low*†		The mean score of BBS after treadmill gait training without obstacle crossing was 46.14−0.03 score (95% CI −2.01 to 1.95) higher in the training group
Subjective balance ability
ABC score
(3–4 weeks)
Scale: 0–100		49
(2 RCTs)		⊕⊖⊖⊖
Very low*†‡		The mean score of ABC after treadmill gait training without obstacle crossing in real-life situations ranged from 62.58 to 72.23−6.67 score (95% CI −20.97 to 7.58) higher in the training group
Gait endurance
6MWT (m)
(4 weeks)		29
(1 RCT)		⊕⊕⊖⊖
Low*†		The mean gait distance after treadmill gait training without obstacle crossing was 277.43 m−5.40 m (95% CI −36.59 to 25.79) longer distance in the training group

  • GRADE Working Group grades of evidence.

  • High quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.

  • Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.

  • Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.

  • Very low quality: the estimate is very uncertain.

  • *Participants and personnel were not blinded.

  • †The number of participants was small.

  • ‡The outcome data were incomplete for 10% of participants.

  • ABC, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale; BBS, Berg Balance Scale; 6MWT, 6 min walk test; RCTs, randomised controlled trials; TUG, Timed Up and Go test.