Task-Related Training of Arm Use After Stroke

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2002-02-28

Study Completion Date

2004-06-30

Brief Summary

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Stroke is the leading cause of long-term physical disability in Australia. Currently around 25% of hemiplegic stroke patients discharged from rehabilitation have significantly impaired use of the affected hand with consequent dependence in dressing, grooming and feeding themselves. The poor outcome can be attributed in part to a lack of focus by therapists on the negative signs of stroke (weakness and lack of dexterity) as well as too little time (around 10 minutes per day) being devoted to retraining of the arm. Presently there is a very limited evidence base to guide the content of clinical practice. Results from both animal and human studies suggest that specific post-lesion training can result in substantial improvement in function. The hypothesis is that task-specific training of the affected upper limb to subjects in the early period following stroke will result in significantly better functional outcome than standard intervention.

Detailed Description

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Stroke is the leading cause of long-term physical disability in Australia. Currently around 25% of hemiplegic stroke patients discharged from rehabilitation have significantly impaired use of the affected hand with consequent dependence in dressing, grooming and feeding themselves. The poor outcome can be attributed in part to a lack of focus by therapists on the negative signs of stroke (weakness and lack of dexterity) as well as too little time (around 10 minutes per day) being devoted to retraining of the arm. Presently there is a very limited evidence base to guide the content of clinical practice. Results from both animal and human studies suggest that specific post-lesion training modulates physiological changes that take place in undamaged tissue. It is probable that this training induces use-dependent patterns of neural activity that can selectively drive the reorganization of the undamaged cortical areas and thereby improve the functional outcome for the arm and hand. We have developed a task-specific training program for the upper limb that is unique in a) the focus on performance of functional tasks, and b) the intensity of practice, with patients practising the tasks both during and outside of therapy sessions.

Comparisons: A 3-week daily task-specific training of the affected upper limb compared to a control intervention that does not involve upper limb training. Both interventions are additional to the standard rehabilitation program.

Outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention and 3 months follow-up. Outcome measures include: variables grip and pinch force, dexterity, arm use and quality of life. Severity of stroke, classified according to the upper arm sub-test of the Motor Assessment Scale, will be used as a covariate.

Conditions

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Stroke

Keywords

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Stroke Hand function Task-specific training

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Interventions

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task-specific training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* within 6 weeks of first stroke
* unilateral stroke
* impaired arm function
* able to cope with intensive training program
* medically stable
* able to understand instructions

Exclusion Criteria

* uncontrolled systemic disease
* significant musculotendinous or bony restrictions of the affected upper limb
* any serious chronic disease independently causing significant disability of the affected limb

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Principal Investigators

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Mary P Galea, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Melbourne

Locations

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Austin Health

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Site Status

Countries

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Australia

References

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Miller K, Galea M, Kilbreath S, Phillips B (2002) Early intensive task-specific sensory and motor training of the upper limb following acute stroke: a pilot study. In Battistin L, Dam M, Tonin P(eds) Neurological Rehabilitation. Bologna:Mondizzi Editore.

Reference Type RESULT

Other Identifiers

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H2001/01313

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id