Table 1 Search strategy for electronic databases

1. exp Stroke/

2. stroke.mp.

3. cerebrovascular diseas$.mp.

4. cerebral vascular diseas$.mp.

5. cerebral vascular accident$.mp.

6. cerebrovascular accident$.mp.

7. (hemipleg$ or hemipar$).mp.

8. 6 or 4 or 1 or 3 or 7 or 2 or 5

9. exp Physical Therapy Modalities/

10 physiotherapy.mp.

11. physical therapy.mp.

12. 11 or 10 or 9

13. randomized controlled trial.pt.

14. controlled clinical trial.pt.

15. randomised controlled trials.sh.

16. random allocation.sh.

17. double-blind method.sh.

18. single-blind method.sh.

19. 18 or 16 or 13 or 17 or 12 or 15 or 14

20. clinical trial.pt.

21. exp Clinical Trial/

22. ((singl$ or doubl$ or treb$ or trip$) adj25 (blind$ or mask$)).ti, ab.

23. (clin$ adj25 trial$).ti, ab.

24. placebo$.ti, ab.

25. placebo.sh.

26. random$.ti, ab.

27. research design.sh.

28. 27 or 25 or 21 or 26 or 20 or 22 or 24 or 23

29. comparative study.sh.

30. exp Evaluation Studies/

31. follow up studies.sh.

32. (contro$ or prospectiv$ or volunteer$).ti, ab.

33. 32 or 30 or 31 or 29

34. 33 or 28 or 19

35. exercis$.mp.

36. exercis$.sh.

37. exp Exercise/

38. functional strength train$.mp.

39. activities of daily living.mp.

40. neuro facilitation.mp.

41. bobath therap$.mp.

42. motor relearn$.mp.

43. rehabilitation.mp.

44. rehabilitation.sh.

45. exp Rehabilitation/

46. restoration of function$.mp.

47. 35 or 39 or 40 or 36 or 41 or 38 or 42 or 46 or 45 or 37 or 43 or 44

48. intensit$.mp.

49. intensit$.sh.

50. frequenc$.sh.

51. frequenc$.mp.

52. duration.mp.

53. duration.sh.

54. dose.mp.

55. dosage.mp.

56. amount.mp.

57. quantit$.mp.

58. how much.mp.

59. dos$.mp.

60. dosing.mp.

= .doses.mp.

62. amounts.mp.

63. 63. 50 or 53 or 57 or 61 or 51 or 58 or 48 or 59 or 52 or 60 or 56 or 49 or 62 or 54 or 55

64. 64. 8 and 63 and 34 and 12 and 47