Self-directed Upper Limb Training Using a SaeboFlex in Acute Stroke

Launched by COLCHESTER HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST · Oct 13, 2011

Keywords

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Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria:
• Subjects will:
• • Be either in-patients on Colchester Stroke Unit or,
• • Out-patients following an acute stroke admission to Colchester Stroke Unit
• • Be adults who have suffered a stroke between 3 and 84 days before recruitment
• • Have an anterior circulation stroke - i.e. must have weakness not ataxia
• • Have a substantially paretic hand and fingers and meet the criteria for the SaeboFlex orthosis as below
• • Have a previously fully functional upper limb (i.e. previous weakness, severe movement disorders, severe Rheumatoid Arthritis )
• • Be able to participate in self directed therapy (i.e. no severe visual or cognitive deficits precluding participation task repetitive practice and recording training times)
• • Are medically fit to participate in repetitive task practice as determined by the consultant (or GP if out-patient).
• • Saebo Flex requirements (inclusion criteria)
• Subjects must have:
• • A minimum of 15 degrees passive wrist extension (fingers must be extended)
• • At least 15 degrees active shoulder motion in any plane
• • At least 15 degrees elbow flexion
• • At least ¼ range of active finger flexion (IP) flexion
• Exclusion criteria:
• • Patients that are able to open and close his/her hand completely, 10 times keeping the wrist neutral while maintaining his / her maximum shoulder flexion are too good for the Saebo-flex. Other treatment options should be considered.
• • Severe joint deformities that could be worsened by using an orthosis, i.e. RA
• • Those patients with extremely poor skin integrity which may be cause irritation or skin damage.
• • We will not exclude stroke survivors on the basis of age or gender but subjects will need to be motivated for self-directed study.