NCT00222339

Task-Related Training of Arm Use After Stroke

Task-Related Training of Arm Use After Stroke: a Randomised Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (planned)
• Sponsor: University of Melbourne · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term physical disability in Australia. Currently around 25% of hemiplegic stroke patients discharged from rehabilitation have significantly impaired use of the affected hand with consequent dependence in dressing, grooming and feeding themselves. The poor outcome can be attributed in part to a lack of focus by therapists on the negative signs of stroke (weakness and lack of dexterity) as well as too little time (around 10 minutes per day) being devoted to retraining of the arm. Presently there is a very limited evidence base to guide the content of clinical practice. Results from both animal and human studies suggest that specific post-lesion training can result in substantial improvement in function. The hypothesis is that task-specific training of the affected upper limb to subjects in the early period following stroke will result in significantly better functional outcome than standard intervention.

Detailed description

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term physical disability in Australia. Currently around 25% of hemiplegic stroke patients discharged from rehabilitation have significantly impaired use of the affected hand with consequent dependence in dressing, grooming and feeding themselves. The poor outcome can be attributed in part to a lack of focus by therapists on the negative signs of stroke (weakness and lack of dexterity) as well as too little time (around 10 minutes per day) being devoted to retraining of the arm. Presently there is a very limited evidence base to guide the content of clinical practice. Results from both animal and human studies suggest that specific post-lesion training modulates physiological changes that take place in undamaged tissue. It is probable that this training induces use-dependent patterns of neural activity that can selectively drive the reorganization of the undamaged cortical areas and thereby improve the functional outcome for the arm and hand. We have developed a task-specific training program for the upper limb that is unique in a) the focus on performance of functional tasks, and b) the intensity of practice, with patients practising the tasks both during and outside of therapy sessions. Comparisons: A 3-week daily task-specific training of the affected upper limb compared to a control intervention that does not involve upper limb training. Both interventions are additional to the standard rehabilitation program. Outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention and 3 months follow-up. Outcome measures include: variables grip and pinch force, dexterity, arm use and quality of life. Severity of stroke, classified according to the upper arm sub-test of the Motor Assessment Scale, will be used as a covariate.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	task-specific training

Timeline

• Start date: 2002-02-01
• Completion: 2004-06-01
• First posted: 2005-09-22
• Last updated: 2005-09-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Australia