Abstract: Objective: To summarize the evidence regarding functional exercise for stroke survivors and provide implications for clinical practice. Methods: We searched databases and resources of evidence-based medicine to collect the evidence, including guidelines, systematic reviews, expert consensus regarding functional exercise in stroke survivors. Results: A total of 8 guidelines, 4 systematic reviews and 1 expert consensus were included. Then 20 evidences were extracted and categorized into 7 dimensions, including organization, evaluation method, exercise time, exercise intensity, exercise strategies, health education and follow-up. Conclusion: This study summarized the evidence of functional exercise for stroke survivors, and provided implications for clinical practice, which has the potential to standardize functional exercise and improve the quality of nursing practice.

Key words: stroke; functional exercise; evidence summary; guideline; systematic review; evidence-based nursing