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Self-regulated Constraint-induced Movement Therapy in Subacute Stroke Patients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Stroke
Interventions
Other: Constraint-induced movement therapy
Other: Conventional occupational therapy
Other: Self-regulated constraint-induced movement therapy
Registration Number
NCT02480140
Lead Sponsor
University of Western Sydney
Brief Summary

Emerging research suggests the use of self-regulation (SR) strategies at improving functional regain in patients with brain injury. SR is proposed to produce an added effect to the effective constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a self-regulated CIMT program (SR-CIMT) for function regain of patients with subacute stroke. It was hypothesized that participants receiving the combined treatment (SR and CIMT) would have a better functional regain.

Detailed Description

Background - Emerging research suggests the use of self-regulation (SR) strategies at improving functional regain in patients with brain injury. SR is proposed to produce an added effect to the effective constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT).

Objective - This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a self-regulated CIMT program (SR-CIMT) for function regain of patients with sub-acute stroke.

Methods - Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to the self-regulated constraint-induced movement therapy (SR-CIMT; n=25), constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT; n=27) or conventional functional rehabilitation (control; n=24) groups, and completed the trial.

The SR-CIMT intervention was two-week therapist-guided training using the SR strategy to reflect on the relearning of functional tasks with CIMT. Outcome measurements were for upper limb function (Action Research Arm Test, ARAT, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, FMA), daily task performance (Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Lawton IADL) and self-perceived functional ability (Motor Activity Log, MAL) at pre and post intervention intervals, and at one month follow up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
76
Inclusion Criteria
  • sustained an ischemic type stroke with lesion in the primary or motor cortical areas resulting in hemiplegia,
  • had stroke onset of less than 3 months,
  • were aged above 60, and
  • had 10 degree active extension in metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joint, 20 degree active extension of wrist joint
Exclusion Criteria
  • had excessive spasticity in the affected limb, as defined by a score of 2 or more on the Modified Ashworth Scale,
  • had excessive pain in the affected limb, as defined by a score 4 or more using a Visual Analog Scale,
  • had a score below 19 on the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and
  • had diagnosed of depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) criteria

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Constraint-induced movement therapyConstraint-induced movement therapyIn the constraint-induced movement therapy group (CIMT), participants' non-hemiplegic arm was restrained in a mitt for 4 hours every day, 2 weeks, 5 days a week (therapy days); therapist provided demonstration on the adapted task performance with one arm (the side of participants' hemiplegic arm), and participants to practice the tasks with the unrestrained hemiplegic arm under supervision.
Conventional occupational therapyConventional occupational therapyIt involved therapist to demonstrate the adapted task performance followed by patient's practice under supervision.
Self-regulated constraint-induced movement therapySelf-regulated constraint-induced movement therapySelf-regulated constraint-induced movement therapy (SR-CIMT) - participants' non-hemiplegic arm was restrained in a mitt for 4 hours every day, 2 weeks, 5 days a week (therapy days) (CIMT) (the same CIMT protocol as in the CIMT group described under 'comparator/control treatment'); participants were taught using the self-regulation (SR) strategy to relearn the tasks; SR strategy involved participants self reflecting on their abilities and deficits in performing the tasks, identifying problems and solutions in achieving the most independence in the tasks, and then actually carrying out the tasks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale at one month after the intervention completedBaseline and one month after the intervention completed (1 month and 2 weeks)

Performance assessment on 8 daily tasks

Change from baseline in Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale after the interventionBaseline and after the intervention (2 weeks)

Performance assessment on 8 daily tasks

Change from baseline in Action Research Arm Test after the interventionBaseline and after the intervention (2 weeks)

Performance assessment on arm function

Change from baseline in Action Research Arm Test at one month after the intervention completedBaseline and one month after the intervention completed (1 month and 2 weeks)

Performance assessment on arm function

Change from baseline in Fugl Meyer Assessment, upper extremity motor subsection after the interventionBaseline and after the intervention (2 weeks)

Performance assessment on arm function

Change from baseline in Fugl Meyer Assessment, upper extremity motor subsection at one month after the intervention completedBaseline and one month after the intervention completed (1 month and 2 weeks)

Performance assessment on arm function

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in Motor Activity Log-28 at one month after the intervention completedBaseline and one month after the intervention completed (1 month and 2 weeks)

Self-reported assessment on daily function

Change from baseline in Motor Activity Log-28 after the interventionBaseline and after the intervention (2 weeks)

Self-reported assessment on daily function

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Shatin Hospital

🇭🇰

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Pok Oi Hospital

🇭🇰

Yuen Long, Hong Kong

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