Improving Arm and Hand Functions in Chronic Stroke (CIHR 2012-2015)

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title: Examination of Therapeutic Intervention Methods on the Brain Recovery

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Improving arm and hand function after stroke has been difficult to achieve within the rehabilitation service provided in the acute stage often due to the limited resource in health care. While spontaneous recovery plateaus after 6 months, the prolonged disability affects quality of life and social participation in stroke survivors. This study is aimed at improving chronic motor impairment arm and hand impairment by providing the intervention with intensive training schedule. This study will compare two types of rehabilitation intervention using a randomized controlled trial. Measurements also will be taken on various brain functions non-invasively to help discover how each of the intervention strategies works differently to repair the brain.

Clinical Trial Description

After unilateral stroke, incomplete recovery of arm and hand movement is common and its long-lasting negative effects include increased care giving costs and overall reduced quality of life. Recent evidence suggests that a novel behavioral intervention could improve motor functions in sub-acute patients with added benefits in cognitive and brain functions. However few studies have addressed whether chronic stage patients can also benefit from the intervention and how brain plasticity works over the course of rehabilitation. This study will investigate the benefits of two types of intervention methods that are extendable for community-based intervention services in the future. It also will examine changes in integrity of motions before and after the intervention. Further comparisons between brain functions and structure will be made using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), non-invasively. These behavioural and physiological measures will inform the mechanisms of stroke recovery and training. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Paresis
• Stroke
• Upper Extremity Paresis

• NCT number: NCT01721668
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Baycrest
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 2012
• Completion date: March 2016