Researchers studied 40 people recovering from a recent stroke to see if a different type of physical therapy might help with leg movement. They compared a standard therapy that focuses on the weakened side to a more comprehensive approach that also includes strengthening exercises for the stronger side. Both groups did therapy five days a week for six weeks.
After the six weeks, both groups of patients showed improvement in their leg function, measured by a standard test. The group that did the comprehensive training on both sides showed a slightly larger average improvement on a test of recovery stages. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant for that recovery stage measure.
It's important to be cautious about these results. The study was small, with only 40 total participants. The researchers did not report whether there were any side effects or problems with either therapy approach. They also only measured results right after the therapy ended, so we don't know if the benefits last.
For now, this study suggests that adding exercises for the stronger side might be a helpful part of stroke recovery therapy. However, because the study is small and preliminary, more research with more people is needed to be sure. Patients should talk with their own physical therapists about what approach is best for their individual recovery.