Hand Grasping Techniques on Eliciting the Grasp Reflex in Patients With Dementia

NCT ID: NCT02925273

Last Updated: 2019-10-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 1 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2018-05-23

Brief Summary

In this study, the investigators will determine the difference between the two techniques used to elicit the grasp response in patients with frontal lobe dysfunction, primarily in dementia patients versus control patients.

Detailed Description

The goal of this project is to determine the optimal technique to elicit the grasping response in patients with dementia or suspected frontal lobe dysfunction. The proposed study is to perform two techniques to elicit grasp response in patients with dementia or suspected frontal lobe dysfunction and observe the presence or absence of the response and prominence of the response on a proposed rating scale. Future goals will be aimed at aiding clinicians in refining their clinical techniques to be more sensitive for diagnosing frontal lobe dysfunctions.

Conditions

Dementia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Standard

Prospective, grasp techniques will be compared in each patient from the experimental group using a palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation and a standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation on the same patient as the control group

Group Type: OTHER

palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation

Intervention Type: OTHER

The patient will then be asked to keep the arms at 90 degrees and the researcher will slightly stroke palm and fingers of both hands of the patient simultaneously. After completion of each technique, the presence or absence of the response will be noted. In addition, the prominence of the response on the rating scale will be obtained as explained below.

The scaling of the grasp response is as followed:

1. Flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint of the hand

2. Flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand

3. Flexion at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the hand

standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation

Intervention Type: OTHER

The patient will be asked to put their arms at 90 degrees and the researcher will hold one hand at the wrist and dorsum of the palm and lightly stroke the palm and fingers. The patient will be instructed to relax hands and not hold on while doing the grasp and see if the response persists. The same technique will be repeated for the patient's other hand.

Interventions

palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation

The patient will then be asked to keep the arms at 90 degrees and the researcher will slightly stroke palm and fingers of both hands of the patient simultaneously. After completion of each technique, the presence or absence of the response will be noted. In addition, the prominence of the response on the rating scale will be obtained as explained below.

The scaling of the grasp response is as followed:

1. Flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint of the hand

2. Flexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand

3. Flexion at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the hand

Intervention Type: OTHER

standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation

The patient will be asked to put their arms at 90 degrees and the researcher will hold one hand at the wrist and dorsum of the palm and lightly stroke the palm and fingers. The patient will be instructed to relax hands and not hold on while doing the grasp and see if the response persists. The same technique will be repeated for the patient's other hand.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Ability to sign informed consent or have a surrogate present to sign the consent

2. Age 18 or above

3. Patients are diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or frontal lobe dysfunction

4. Medications are to remain stable during the course of the study except for emergency modifications.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Inability to obtain informed consent from patient or surrogate

2. Unable to follow commands.

3. Physical restrictions (i.e. spasticity of hands/arms, upper extremity amputation)

4. Other comorbidities such as muscular diseases, hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure, down syndrome, NPH, depression, and cerebral palsy.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Rowan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Lauren Fedor

Program Manager

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Donald Barone, DO

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Locations

Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Stratford, New Jersey, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

GRASP

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id