Does More Practice Improve Arm Movement After Stroke?

NCT ID: NCT01146379

Last Updated: 2017-02-24

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

85 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2010-05-31

Study Completion Date

2015-10-31

Brief Summary

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Arm weakness happens a lot after a stroke. People often get physical or occupational therapy after their stroke to learn how to use their arm again. This study will help figure out how much therapy should be given to restore as much arm function as possible.

Detailed Description

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Dose has emerged as a key factor promoting functional recovery after stroke. Currently, a lack of data on the dose-response relationship impedes progress in the field of stroke rehabilitation. The goal of the proposed project is to define the range of doses of movement practice that produce the greatest improvements in outcomes in people with chronic stroke. Borrowing from animal models of stroke, dose in humans can be quantified by the number of repetitions of task-specific practice.

Our central hypothesis is that there exists a range of doses for people with stroke, below which, there is minimal benefit, and above which, further practice does not result in further benefit. The range of beneficial doses is likely to vary based on the severity of motor deficits and the presence of non-motor deficits in other domains. Using a randomized, parallel dose-response design, we will evaluate the benefits of four different doses of task-specific upper extremity training with matched schedules of 1 hr sessions, 4 sessions/wk for 8 wks, in 100 people with chronic stroke. Total repetition doses to be evaluated (3200, 6400, 9600, \& individualized-maximum) are based on our preliminary data. The individualized-maximum group may extend their sessions beyond 8 wks until meeting defined stop criteria.

Our primary aim will test whether larger total doses result in better outcomes than smaller total doses. Benefits of the four doses will be evaluated at the impairment, activity, and participation levels, since understanding the dose-response relationship at all levels of measurement is critical for advancing rehabilitation research. We hypothesize that improvements will be greatest in the 9600 and individualized-maximum, followed by the 6400, and then the 3200 repetition dose groups. Our secondary aim is to characterize the dose-response relationship of upper extremity task-specific practice. With data from multiple assessment points, individual curve modeling will be used to estimate dose ranges, below which, there is minimal benefit, and above which, further practice does not result in further benefit. Furthermore, we will determine how various factors modify the dose estimates. We hypothesize that the severity of motor deficits will be the primary modifier of the dose-response relationship, with larger doses needed for those with more mild motor deficits. We further expect that needed doses will be larger for those with depression and hemispatial neglect.

Our team is well-positioned to investigate the critical issue of dose because of our expertise in stroke rehabilitation research and measurement, our understanding of the challenges of clinical practice and clinical research, and our ready access to this patient population. Expected outcomes from this project are empirically-driven estimates indicating the amount of movement practice required to drive maximal improvements and how these estimates can be individually modified for people undergoing stroke rehabilitation. Our estimates will immediately impact rehabilitation research and clinical practice. The importance of this project transcends stroke rehabilitation; our primary results will be of high value to many other rehabilitation populations also impeded by the lack of knowledge regarding dose-response relationships.

Conditions

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Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Low Movement Dose, 3200 total reps

he experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intensive task-specific upper extremity rehabilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

The experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Medium Movement Dose, 6400 total reps

he experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intensive task-specific upper extremity rehabilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

The experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

High Movement Dose, 9600 total reps

he experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intensive task-specific upper extremity rehabilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

The experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Individual Maximum High Movement Dose

he experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intensive task-specific upper extremity rehabilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

The experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Interventions

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Intensive task-specific upper extremity rehabilitation

The experimental intervention consists of intensive task-specific upper extremity movement rehabilitation which are appropriately graded and progressed for each subject. This intervention will provide progressive training of these essential components required for upper extremity movement through repeated practice of various tasks, with the desired goal of building the subject's capacity to perform a multitude of UE functions. Subjects will participate in the intervention for eight weeks or more depending on the group they are randomized to.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke as determined by a stroke neurologist and consistent with neuroimaging
* Time since stroke will include subjects 6-months or more post-stroke
* Cognitive skills to actively participate (score of 0-1 on items 1b and 1c of the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
* Unilateral upper extremity weakness (score of 1-3 on item 5 (arm item) on the NIHSS)

Exclusion Criteria

* Subject unavailable for 2-month follow-up
* Inability to follow-2-step commands
* Psychiatric diagnoses
* Current participation in other stroke treatment (i.e.- Botox)
* Other neurological diagnoses
* If participant lives further than one hour away and is unwilling to travel for assessment and treatment sessions.
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Washington University School of Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Catherine E. Lang

Professor of Physical Therapy, Neurology, and Occupational Therapy

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Catherine E Lang, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Washington University School of Medicine

Locations

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Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Bailey RR, Lang CE. Upper-limb activity in adults: referent values using accelerometry. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(9):1213-22. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2012.12.0222.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24458962 (View on PubMed)

Urbin MA, Hong X, Lang CE, Carter AR. Resting-state functional connectivity and its association with multiple domains of upper-extremity function in chronic stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2014 Oct;28(8):761-9. doi: 10.1177/1545968314522349. Epub 2014 Feb 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24553104 (View on PubMed)

Bailey RR, Klaesner JW, Lang CE. An accelerometry-based methodology for assessment of real-world bilateral upper extremity activity. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 28;9(7):e103135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103135. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25068258 (View on PubMed)

Urbin MA, Waddell KJ, Lang CE. Acceleration metrics are responsive to change in upper extremity function of stroke survivors. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 May;96(5):854-61. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.11.018. Epub 2014 Dec 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25497517 (View on PubMed)

Urbin MA, Bailey RR, Lang CE. Validity of body-worn sensor acceleration metrics to index upper extremity function in hemiparetic stroke. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2015 Apr;39(2):111-8. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000085.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25742378 (View on PubMed)

Bailey RR, Birkenmeier RL, Lang CE. Real-world affected upper limb activity in chronic stroke: an examination of potential modifying factors. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2015 Feb;22(1):26-33. doi: 10.1179/1074935714Z.0000000040. Epub 2015 Jan 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25776118 (View on PubMed)

Bailey RR, Klaesner JW, Lang CE. Quantifying Real-World Upper-Limb Activity in Nondisabled Adults and Adults With Chronic Stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2015 Nov-Dec;29(10):969-78. doi: 10.1177/1545968315583720. Epub 2015 Apr 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25896988 (View on PubMed)

Waddell KJ, Birkenmeier RL, Bland MD, Lang CE. An exploratory analysis of the self-reported goals of individuals with chronic upper-extremity paresis following stroke. Disabil Rehabil. 2016;38(9):853-7. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1062926. Epub 2015 Jul 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26146964 (View on PubMed)

Lang CE, Lohse KR, Birkenmeier RL. Dose and timing in neurorehabilitation: prescribing motor therapy after stroke. Curr Opin Neurol. 2015 Dec;28(6):549-55. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000256.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26402404 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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10-0230

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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