Motor Recovery of the Severely Impaired Paretic Upper Limb After Mirror Therapy in Sub-acute Stroke

NCT ID: NCT02942875

Last Updated: 2016-10-24

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

35 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-09-30

Study Completion Date

2016-09-30

Brief Summary

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Our study aims at investigating the effect of intensive mirror therapy on the motor recovery of severely impaired paretic arm at subacute stroke.

Detailed Description

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It was reported that upper limb hemiparesis happened in 80% of stroke patients and only 20% regained full arm function 6 months post stroke. The paretic upper arm accounted for 50% of the variance in functional limitation after stroke. Early and intensive upper limb intervention can promote motor recovery of paretic arm and is associated with better upper limb functional outcomes on 6 month post stroke. Mirror therapy (MT) is one of the potential approach in enhancing motor recovery of paretic arm after stroke. However, the effect of intensive MT on the motor recovery of severely impaired paretic arm after stroke has not been investigated. Knowledge on the effect of intensive MT on motor recovery can enhance formulation of effective and efficiency treatment protocol in stroke rehabilitation. Therefore, our study aims at investigating the effect of intensive MT on the motor recovery of severely impaired paretic arm of patients at subacute phase of stroke.

Stroke patients admitted to Haven of Hope Hospital will be screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible subjects will consent and be randomized into two groups: MT group- subjects will have daily two 30-min sessions of standardized bilateral upper limbs exercise with presence of mirror, 5 days per week for 4 consecutive weeks. During MT, a mirror is placed in the patient's mid-sagittal plane, with the reflecting surface facing the non-paretic upper limb so that the reflected image of this non-paretic limb would be perceived as the paretic upper limb. Subjects are instructed to watch at the movements of the reflected image of the non-paretic limbs and at the same time, the paretic upper limb should imitate the observed movements and be synchronized with those of the good side. Standardized bilateral upper limbs exercise (4 sets of 30 repetitions of shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers movements) will be carried out within 30 min per session. Control group subjects will receive same daily two sessions of standardized bilateral upper limbs exercise without mirror, 5 days per week for 4 consecutive weeks. Motor functions of paretic arm of subjects measured by Fugl-Meyer Assessment (motor domain) and Wolf Motor Function Test will be assessed by independent assessor who is blinded to the group allocation of subjects before and after the 4-week intervention. Baseline comparison between the two groups was tested with independent t-test and the difference among and between groups after intervention will be tested by repeated measures ANOVA with level of significant at 0.05.

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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Mirror therapy group

MT group subjects will attend training sessions of bilateral upper limb exercise daily in the presence of the mirror.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

mirror therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

During MT, subjects will sit in front of a table on which a mirror will be placed vertically in the space ipsilateral to the paretic upper limb with its reflective surface facing the unaffected upper limb. The subjects are required to look at the mirror to observe the reflective image of the unaffected arm from shoulder to the hand, while it is performing certain designated movements. At the same time, the affected arm will be required to follow the unaffected arm to practice the same movements.

The upper limbs movements during the 30-min MT session are open and close of grasp; wrist flexion and extension; forearm supination and pronation; elbow flexion and extension; shoulder flexion and extension. A total of 120 repetitions for each action will be practiced.

Control therapy group

Control group subjects will undergo the same training sessions of bilateral upper limb exercise daily without mirror.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

control therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Control group subjects undergo the same bilateral upper limbs exercise protocol without mirror

Interventions

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mirror therapy

During MT, subjects will sit in front of a table on which a mirror will be placed vertically in the space ipsilateral to the paretic upper limb with its reflective surface facing the unaffected upper limb. The subjects are required to look at the mirror to observe the reflective image of the unaffected arm from shoulder to the hand, while it is performing certain designated movements. At the same time, the affected arm will be required to follow the unaffected arm to practice the same movements.

The upper limbs movements during the 30-min MT session are open and close of grasp; wrist flexion and extension; forearm supination and pronation; elbow flexion and extension; shoulder flexion and extension. A total of 120 repetitions for each action will be practiced.

Intervention Type OTHER

control therapy

Control group subjects undergo the same bilateral upper limbs exercise protocol without mirror

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* age 35 years or older
* first stroke within the first month after stroke onset;
* has upper limb paresis contralateral to the side of cerebral hemisphere with stroke;
* Presence of active movements (at least flicker of movement in gravity free position, but not able to accomplish full range of motion against gravity) at any one joint of shoulder, elbow and hand of hemiplegic arm, and Motricity Index less than 47.
* Able to follow instructions

Exclusion Criteria

* has visual impairment not correctable by corrective lens;
* has cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score \< 22/30)
* has comprehension or expression aphasia;
* Presence of visuospatial neglect
* has premorbid neurological or musculoskeletal conditions that affect movements in the upper limbs
Minimum Eligible Age

35 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

100 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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CHAN Wing Chiu

Doctoral research student, Department of Rehabilitation Science, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Wing Chiu Chan, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Locations

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Haven of Hope Hospital

Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Site Status

Countries

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Hong Kong

References

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Other Identifiers

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HSEARS20140613004

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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