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Objective: To investigate effect of initial severity of arm impairment on response to additional physiotherapy for the arm after stroke.

Design: In this controlled trial, patients were randomized into one of three groups: routine physiotherapy (RPT) patients received no additional physiotherapy; qualified physiotherapy (QPT) patients received additional treatment from a qualified physiotherapist; assistant physiotherapy (APT) patients received additional treatment from a trained supervised assistant. Comparisons between the whole groups found no significant differences and have been reported elsewhere. In a post hoc analysis, the groups were subdivided according to severity of initial arm impairment. The subgroups were then compared.

Setting: A general hospital with acute and rehabilitation facilities for stroke patients.

Subjects: Patients (n= 282) between one and five weeks after stroke. Interventions: Ten hours …