Finished
Air Muscle and Task Practice in Upper Limb Stroke Rehab
NCT00729625 · Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) · Updated 23 May 2016
- What is being tested
- robotic device
- For
- Stroke
- Kind of study
- Tests a treatment or device on volunteers. Early phase 1.
- Who can join
- Ages 18 years to 75 years. About 24 people. The full rules are on the registry page.
- Where
- Not stated
- When
- Starts or started April 2005, ends March 2007. Registered 7 Aug 2008.
- Results
- None posted yet.
In the researchers' words
Many patients who have sustained strokes are unable to effectively use their hemiparetic upper extremity. Limited mobility in the performance of daily activities, such as eating or dressing, adversely affects their quality of life and compromises independence. Rehabilitation techniques engaging the hemiparetic limb in repetitive task practice (RTP) may improve upper extremity function and quality of life in patients with stroke, but costs limit the number of patients that can utilize this type of therapy. Advances in microprocessor design and function make the use of an assistive device as an adjunct to RTP plausible. An innovative assistive repetitive motion (ARM) device using an "air muscle" has been developed specifically for the rehabilitation of the hemiparetic upper extremity. The primary aim of the proposed study is to collect pilot data to estimate the clinical effectiveness of using the ARM device in conjunction with RTP to improve upper extremity motor function and the quality of life of patients with stroke. Twenty sub-acute (3 to 9 mos. post-stoke) patients will be randomized to a RTP only or ARM + RTP group. The RTP group will receive 15 days (4 hours per day) of intensive one-on-one RTP therapy. The ARM + RTP group will use the ARM device for 2 hours per day and receive 2 hours of intensive RTP per day for 15 days. Clinical motor function and quality of life…