Teaser 7:1 Effects of lower limb reciprocal pedalling exercise on motor function after stroke: a systematic review of randomised and non-randomised studies

After stroke, it is possible to drive beneficial functional reorganisation of the brain with behavioural training. For example, repetition of motor activity can produce changes in brain representation maps and motor skill acquisition, or motor learning, may drive these changes. These and other findings suggest that rehabilitation programmes should incorporate these underlying principles and hence involve: increasing levels of motor skill; goal-directed activity, and tasks that are meaningful for participants in rehabilitation programmes. However, it remains unclear which specific therapeutic modalities might best be used to provide the repetitive, skilled activity necessary to drive brain changes that might lead to improvements in functional activities such as gait.