NCT03336749

Sensory Re-learning of the Upper Limb After Stroke

SENSory Re-learning of the UPPer Limb After Stroke (SENSUPP): a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (actual)
• Sponsor: Lund University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The overall aim of this study is to investigate if sensory re-learning in combination with task-specific training is more effective than task-specific training alone to improve sensory function of the hand, dexterity, the ability to use the hand in daily activities, perceived participation and life satisfaction.

Detailed description

More than half of stroke survivors suffer from sensory impairments of their affected upper limb (UL), which can lead to long term problems to use the UL in daily life, such as personal care, household- and leisure activities. Few studies have evaluated if sensory re-learning in combination with task-specific training can improve the ability to perform daily hand activities and perceived participation. Therefore, there is a need for more studies. This is a single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial with two treatment arms. Thirty persons with sensory impairments of the UL after stroke will be recruited and randomized to either sensory re-learning in combination with task-specific training or to task-specific training only. The training will consist of 2.5 hours of group training per session, 2 times per week for 5 weeks. Assessments will be conducted pre- and post-training and at 3 months' after the intervention. Descriptive statistics (mean (SD) or median (min- max) will be used to characterize the study groups. Non-parametric statistics will be used for ordinal data and parametric statistics for continues data. To analyze between group differences, the Mann-Whitney test or Independent sample t-test will be used and Wilcoxon signed ranks test or paired t-test to analyze within group differences. The level of statistical significance will be set at p \< 0.05.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Sensory group	The sensory re-learning consists of touch detection practice, i.e., touch discrimination to identify different materials, shapes, textures, weights and temperatures, proprioception and tactile object recognition in combination with task-specific training.
OTHER	Control group	Traditional task-specific training

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-04-01
• Primary completion: 2021-02-04
• Completion: 2021-02-04
• First posted: 2017-11-08
• Last updated: 2021-02-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sweden