Feasibility of Home-based Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for the Upper Extremity in Subacute and Chronic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03559829

Last Updated: 2019-05-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-09-23
• Study Completion Date: 2018-02-02

Brief Summary

Regaining upper extremity function is very important for stroke survivors to increase their independence and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Outpatient stroke rehabilitation currently takes place in a therapy clinic, however access can be limited by financial resources and transportation difficulties.

The Feasibility of Home-Based Virtual Reality Rehabilitation for the Upper Extremity in Subacute and Chronic Stroke Study seeks to explore the safety, usability, and efficacy of a home based virtual reality biofeedback system to promote distal upper extremity (wrist and hand) recovery after stroke. The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility of using a home-based virtual reality system to increase the dose of upper extremity rehabilitation in subacute and chronic stroke patients.

Detailed Description

In this pilot study, we propose to test a virtual reality home-based intervention as an alternative or supplement to traditional rehabilitation for upper extremity weakness after stroke. We are hoping to discover that the device is easily adopted by patients and increases the dose of rehabilitation, as well as potentially leads to motor recovery.

With the increasing affordability and accessibility of virtual reality (VR) systems, VR has emerged as a new platform for stroke rehabilitation. VR therapy involves using computer-based programs to simulate daily tasks and events. VR has shown promise in both allowing patients to practice activities that directly translate to their ADLs, as well as motivating them by providing a novel and interesting virtual environment.

Relevance Regaining upper extremity function is very important for stroke survivors to increase their independence and ability to perform ADLs. The large majority of outpatient stroke rehabilitation currently takes place in a therapy clinic, however access is often limited by resource allocation, financial hardship, and transportation difficulties. The Smart Glove can provide an inexpensive and convenient means for stroke patients to continue their rehabilitation in the comfort of their own home.

Patient Population Subacute and chronic stroke patients presenting with upper extremity weakness, as identified by Stanford physicians in clinic, will be eligible for participation in this study. Patients will be screened and selected from the population of people with strokes who are seen in the Stanford Neuroscience Clinic. Patients will be allowed to participate in any scheduled outpatient rehabilitation during the study. The doctor and/or research coordinator may introduce the study to potential candidates in-person in the Stanford Neurology Clinic, and the research coordinator may contact potential candidates by phone after the doctor's referral.

Procedures:

Once the participant has given informed consent and enrolled in the study, they will have a total of five visits, with one visit every two weeks.

Visit one will entail the participant and identified caregiver undergoing training on the use of the Smart Glove by the research coordinator and Neofect staff. This involves donning/doffing of the glove as well as instruction as to how to use the software program. The participant will be issued a Smart Glove and a tablet preloaded with the software. Subjects will also undergo baseline functional testing, including manual muscle testing (MMT), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FM), Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTT), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). This first visit is expected to take 60-90 minutes. The participant will be expected to use the Smart Glove for 60 min per day for at least 5 days per week.

The subsequent three visits will be at two week intervals and will involve the participant bringing the device to the Clinical and Translational Research Unit (CTRU). The research coordinator will upload the data from the device as well as troubleshoot any device-related issues. These visits will last 15-30 minutes each.

The final visit will occur after eight weeks of Smart Glove use. In addition to downloading the data, the research coordinator will also repeat functional testing functional testing, including manual muscle testing (MMT), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FM), Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTT), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). This visit will last 45-60 minutes.

Conditions

Stroke

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Single Arm - Intervention arm

RAPAEL Smart Glove Arm The participant will be issued a Smart Glove and a tablet preloaded with the game software. The available games provide various kinds of motion tasks such as ADL-related tasks presented in an entertaining manner. The learning schedule algorithm automatically adjusts to the optimal level of difficulty to balance challenge and motivation. The participant will be expected to use the Smart Glove at home for 60 min per day for at least 5 days per week.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

RAPAEL Smart Glove

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The RAPAEL Smart Glove is a commercially available, non-invasive biofeedback based system for distal upper extremity rehabilitation. The Smart Glove is very lightweight and allows for easy movement of all distal upper extremity joints. It is made of an elastomer material that is simple to maintain and clean. The Bending Sensor is a variable resistor that changes as it is bent. The sensor is a 9-axis movement and position sensor that consists of 3 acceleration channels, 3 angular rate channels, and 3 magnetic field channels that measure wrist movements. They are connected to a computer system which can accurately compute the amount of individual finger movements.

Interventions

RAPAEL Smart Glove

The RAPAEL Smart Glove is a commercially available, non-invasive biofeedback based system for distal upper extremity rehabilitation. The Smart Glove is very lightweight and allows for easy movement of all distal upper extremity joints. It is made of an elastomer material that is simple to maintain and clean. The Bending Sensor is a variable resistor that changes as it is bent. The sensor is a 9-axis movement and position sensor that consists of 3 acceleration channels, 3 angular rate channels, and 3 magnetic field channels that measure wrist movements. They are connected to a computer system which can accurately compute the amount of individual finger movements.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 1) Age 18 and older 2) Diagnosis of stroke at least three months prior to enrollment 3) Unilateral upper extremity functional deficit after stroke 4) Presence of a score of at least 2 points on the medical research council scale for wrist flexion/extension or forearm pronation/supination 5) Able to provide informed consent 6) Caregiver who is willing to be trained in use of the Smart Glove

Exclusion Criteria

• 1) Predisposing psychological disorders which could impede participation 2) Severe aphasia resulting in communication difficulties 3) Severe pain impeding upper extremity rehabilitation 4) Pre-existing neurological disorder that causes motor deficits (i.e. Parkinson's disease)

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

Sponsors

NEOFECT Rehabilitation Solutions

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Maarten Lansberg

Associate Professor, Neurology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Kara Flavin, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford University

Maarten Lansberg, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford University

Locations

Stanford Hospital and Clinics

Stanford, California, United States

Countries

United States

References

Lansberg MG, Legault C, MacLellan A, Parikh A, Muccini J, Mlynash M, Kemp S, Buckwalter MS, Flavin K. Home-based virtual reality therapy for hand recovery after stroke. PM R. 2022 Mar;14(3):320-328. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12598. Epub 2021 May 24.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 33773059 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

125802

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

37580

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id