Technology-supported task-oriented training of arm-hand function in persons with chronic stroke

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Stroke/Neurorehabilitation
Circulatory System
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction

Registration Number: ISRCTN82787126

Lead Sponsor: Rehabilitation Foundation Limburg (Stichting Revalidatie Limburg [SRL]) (The Netherlands)

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

1. First ever stroke
2. 18 - 85 years old, male and female
3. Clinically diagnosed as having a central paresis of the arm/hand (strength: Medical Research Council grade 2-3-4 at entry into the study)
4. Post-stroke time greater than or equal to 12 months
5. Fair-good cognitive level (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE] score greater than or equal to 26 or CogLog score greater than or equal to 26)
6. Ability to read and understand Dutch language
7. Impaired as to at least two of the following skills: drinking from a cup, eating with knife and fork, open/close clothing, taking money from purse, wash/dry body, holding reek/broom/spade, grooming, keyboard work, balancing object while holding it
8. Motivated to train on above mentioned skills

Exclusion Criteria

1. Neglect: Bells Test, Letter Cancellation Test: minimum omission score of 15% is considered to indicate unilateral spatial neglect
2. Hemianopsia, retrieved from patient's medical file
3. Severe spasticity: Modified Ashworth Scale total arm greater than 4
4. Severe additional neurological, orthopaedic or rheumatoid impairments prior to stroke that may interfere with task performance
5. Broca aphasia, Wernicke aphasia, global aphasia: as determined by the Akense Afasie Test
6. Apraxia: Apraxietest of Van Heugten

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Arm-hand function: <br>1. As measured on function level by Brunnstrom-Fugl-Meyer Test<br>2. As measured on activity level by the Action Research Arm Test and the Motor Activity Log<br><br>The outcomes above will be assessed at the following timepoints:<br>T0: Baseline<br>T1: After training for 4 weeks <br>T2: After training for 8 weeks <br>T3: 6 months after finishing the training programme

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Quality of life at T0, T2 and T3: <br>1. The 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36)<br>2. EuroQol-6D questionnaire<br> <br>T0: Baseline <br>T1: After training for 4 weeks <br>T2: After training for 8 weeks <br>T3: 6 months after finishing the training programme