Effects of RAT in Sequential Combination With CIT in Stroke Rehabilitation

NCT ID: NCT01727648

Last Updated: 2012-12-20

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

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

92 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-08-31

Study Completion Date

2015-07-31

Brief Summary

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The findings of this project will contribute to the understanding of a comprehensive probe for investigation of the effects of monotherapy versus combination rehabilitation intervention after stroke, including the topics of possible underlying mechanisms of motor recovery as well as the beneficial and adverse effects of intense rehabilitation therapy, prognostic factors of the outcomes, and clinimetric properties of the instruments. The overall findings of this project will be significant in the era of knowledge translation and guide the development of innovative and effective interventions for individualized stroke rehabilitation.

Detailed Description

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The overall goal of this research project will be to provide scientific evidence of the robot-assisted therapy in sequential combination with distributed constraint-induced therapy (RT + dCIT)versus monotherapy of the robot-assisted therapy (RT), distributed constraint-induced therapy (dCIT), and a dose-matched control therapy (DMCT)in stroke rehabilitation. The specific aims of this proposed research are identified as follows:

1. The investigators will investigate the treatment effects of RT + dCIT compared to RT, CIT, and DMCT on motor ability, muscle function, sensory function, daily performance, real-world arm activity, quality of life, and motor control variables at before treatment, midterm assessment, and after treatment. In addition to study of treatment benefits, physiological responses as the potential adverse effects including post-exertional fatigue, post-exertional pain, and a biomarker of oxidative stress will be also examined in this project. The investigators hypothesized that the therapeutic regimen combining RT with dCIT will contribute to more significantly reduction in impairment and disability for stroke patients than the other intervention groups.
2. The investigators will investigate if the clinical characteristics or behavioral markers of stroke patients will influence the outcomes after interventions. The proposed potential predictors will be chronicity, side of lesion, muscle tone, motor ability of distal part of upper limb, and amount of affected hand use.
3. The investigators will examine whether the improved scores after each treatment reach clinically important changes in order to establish the clinical significance relevant for individualized medicine. The investigators will also assess and compare the clinimetric properties (e.g., validity, responsiveness, minimal detectable change, and minimal clinically important difference) of the rehabilitation outcomes to inform selection of instruments.

Conditions

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Cerebrovascular Accident

Keywords

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Stroke rehabilitation Comparative efficacy research Combined therapy Robot-Assisted Therapy Constraint-Induced Therapy Kinematic analysis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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RT in sequential combination with dCIT

The participants will received 2 weeks of RT therapy and followed by 2 weeks of distributed CIT therapy. The treatment principles of RT and distributed CIT are the same with those described in the monotherapy of RT or dCIT, respectively.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

RT in sequential combination with dCIT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The participants will received 2 weeks of RT therapy using the ArmeoSpring and followed by 2 weeks of distributed CIT therapy. The treatment principles of RT and distributed CIT are the same with those described in the monotherapy of RT or dCIT, respectively.

Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy

The dCIT group will focus on restriction on movement of the unaffected hand by placement of the hand in a mitt for 6 hours/day and intensive training of the affected UL in functional tasks for 1.5 hours/weekday over the 4 weeks. Participants in this group will focus on the intensive training of the affected arm in functional activities with behavioral shaping.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The dCIT group will focus on restriction on movement of the unaffected hand by placement of the hand in a mitt for 6 hours/day and intensive training of the affected UL in functional tasks for 1.5 hours/weekday over the 4 weeks. Participants in this group will focus on the intensive training of the affected arm in functional activities with behavioral shaping.

Robot-Assisted Therapy

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). The ArmeoSpring will be used in this project. It is a 5 degree-of-freedom skeleton mechanism that automates arm movement in a gravity-supported and computer-enhanced environment. The design of the arm support component of the ArmeoSpring is based on Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, an antigravity arm support. Instrumentation of the ArmeoSpring with position sensors at each joint enables it to be used as a 3D input device for computer game play with the hemiparetic arm. A custom software package named Vu Therapy will be also used in this project. Games were designed to simulate functional arm movements to provide training in a simple virtual reality environment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Robot-Assisted Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). The ArmeoSpring (Hocoma AG, Switzerland) will be used in this project. It is a 5 degree-of-freedom skeleton mechanism that automates arm movement in a gravity-supported and computer-enhanced environment. The design of the arm support component of the ArmeoSpring is based on Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, an antigravity arm support. Instrumentation of the ArmeoSpring with position sensors at each joint enables it to be used as a 3D input device for computer game play with the hemiparetic arm. A custom software package named Vu Therapy will be also used in this project. Games were designed to simulate functional arm movements to provide training in a simple virtual reality environment.

Dose-matched control therapy

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). This group will received a structured protocol using conventional occupational therapy techniques such as neuro-developmental techniques with emphasis on functional tasks and muscle strengthening. The treatment protocol will include (1) passive range of motion exercises, stretching of the affected limb, or facilitatory and inhibitory techniques for 15 to 20 minutes, (2) fine motor or dexterity training for 20 minutes, (3) arm exercises or gross motor training for 20 minutes, (4) muscle strengthening of the affected upper limb for 15 to 20 minutes, and (5) activities of daily living or functional tasks training for 15 to 20 minutes.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dose-matched control therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). This group will received a structured protocol using conventional occupational therapy techniques such as neuro-developmental techniques with emphasis on functional tasks and muscle strengthening. The treatment protocol will include (1) passive range of motion exercises, stretching of the affected limb, or facilitatory and inhibitory techniques for 15 to 20 minutes, (2) fine motor or dexterity training for 20 minutes, (3) arm exercises or gross motor training for 20 minutes, (4) muscle strengthening of the affected upper limb for 15 to 20 minutes, and (5) activities of daily living or functional tasks training for 15 to 20 minutes.

Interventions

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RT in sequential combination with dCIT

The participants will received 2 weeks of RT therapy using the ArmeoSpring and followed by 2 weeks of distributed CIT therapy. The treatment principles of RT and distributed CIT are the same with those described in the monotherapy of RT or dCIT, respectively.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy

The dCIT group will focus on restriction on movement of the unaffected hand by placement of the hand in a mitt for 6 hours/day and intensive training of the affected UL in functional tasks for 1.5 hours/weekday over the 4 weeks. Participants in this group will focus on the intensive training of the affected arm in functional activities with behavioral shaping.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Robot-Assisted Therapy

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). The ArmeoSpring (Hocoma AG, Switzerland) will be used in this project. It is a 5 degree-of-freedom skeleton mechanism that automates arm movement in a gravity-supported and computer-enhanced environment. The design of the arm support component of the ArmeoSpring is based on Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, an antigravity arm support. Instrumentation of the ArmeoSpring with position sensors at each joint enables it to be used as a 3D input device for computer game play with the hemiparetic arm. A custom software package named Vu Therapy will be also used in this project. Games were designed to simulate functional arm movements to provide training in a simple virtual reality environment.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Dose-matched control therapy

Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). This group will received a structured protocol using conventional occupational therapy techniques such as neuro-developmental techniques with emphasis on functional tasks and muscle strengthening. The treatment protocol will include (1) passive range of motion exercises, stretching of the affected limb, or facilitatory and inhibitory techniques for 15 to 20 minutes, (2) fine motor or dexterity training for 20 minutes, (3) arm exercises or gross motor training for 20 minutes, (4) muscle strengthening of the affected upper limb for 15 to 20 minutes, and (5) activities of daily living or functional tasks training for 15 to 20 minutes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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RT+dCIT dCIT RT DMCT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 6 months onset from a first-ever unilateral stroke
* An initial UL subsection of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment score of 20 to 50 indicating moderate and moderate to severe UL movement impairment
* No balance problems sufficient to compromise safety when wearing the study's constraint device
* No excessive spasticity in any of the joints of the affected UL (modified Ashworth scale ≤ 3)
* Without upper limb fracture within 3 months
* Be able to follow study instructions and perform study tasks (Mini Mental State Examination ≥ 24)
* Willing to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Exhibit physician-determined major medical problems or poor physical conditions that would interfere with participation
* Excessive pain in any joint that might limit participation
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Taiwan University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Keh-chung Lin, ScD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University

Locations

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National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, , Taiwan

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Taiwan

Central Contacts

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Keh-chung Lin, ScD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 886-2-33668180

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Keh-chung Lin, ScD

Role: primary

References

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Hsieh YW, Liing RJ, Lin KC, Wu CY, Liou TH, Lin JC, Hung JW. Sequencing bilateral robot-assisted arm therapy and constraint-induced therapy improves reach to press and trunk kinematics in patients with stroke. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2016 Mar 22;13:31. doi: 10.1186/s12984-016-0138-5.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 27000446 (View on PubMed)

Hsieh YW, Lin KC, Horng YS, Wu CY, Wu TC, Ku FL. Sequential combination of robot-assisted therapy and constraint-induced therapy in stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurol. 2014 May;261(5):1037-45. doi: 10.1007/s00415-014-7345-4. Epub 2014 Apr 20.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 24748465 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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201112104RIB

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id