Physiotherapists administered both tilt table standing and electrical stimulation. The experimental group also wore an ankle splintb for at least 12 hours a day, 5 days per week. The

splints positioned the ankles in maximum tolerable dorsiflexion. Physiotherapists, nursing staff or physiotherapy assistants, as directed by the treating LBH589 cost physiotherapists, applied them. Participants in the control group only received tilt table standing for 30 minutes, three times a week. They did not stand with a wedge under the foot. In short, the intervention programs of the two groups differed in three ways. Firstly, the experimental group received 30 sessions of tilt table standing, while the control group received 18 sessions. Secondly, the experimental group received maximum stretch (by using a wedge where applicable) while standing on the tilt table, while the control group did not receive stretch beyond a plantigrade position. Thirdly, the experimental group received electrical stimulation

and ankle splinting, while the control group did not. During the 4-week follow-up period, participants selleck compound in both groups stood on a tilt table for 30 minutes, three times a week, without a wedge. No electrical stimulation or splinting was administered to the ankle during this time. Over the course of the trial, all participants received usual multidisciplinary rehabilitation provided by the participating units, as appropriate. This consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy and psychological therapy. Physiotherapy included an individualised motor training program, which, where appropriate, included practice of sitting to standing, walking and standing. The usual care for both groups MycoClean Mycoplasma Removal Kit involved positioning of participants’ feet in dorsiflexion while seated and lying. No other passive stretch-based interventions were administered to the ankle during the trial. Physiotherapists were assigned to patients on admission

(ie, prior to recruitment). Thus, the physiotherapists managed an arbitrary mix of control and experimental participants. Diaries were used to record all interventions. No other passive stretch-based interventions were administered to the ankle. In addition, no botulinum toxin injection was administered to the ankle during the study period. Use of anti-spasticity medication was not mandated by the study protocol, but was recorded. Assessors and medical staff were blinded to group allocation, but treating physiotherapists and participants were not. Success of assessor blinding was monitored. There were one primary and nine secondary outcomes. The primary outcome was passive ankle dorsiflexion measured with a torque of 12 Nm with the knee in extension. This was used to reflect the extensibility of the bi-articular ankle plantarflexor muscles.