Cognitive-motor Training Post-stroke - a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Launched by DANDERYD HOSPITAL · Oct 27, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new training program aimed at helping people who have had a stroke improve their hand and arm movement. After a stroke, many people struggle with using their hands effectively, which can make daily activities challenging and reduce their independence. The researchers want to see if combining physical tasks with mental challenges—called dual-task training—can lead to better improvements in hand function compared to traditional training that focuses on just physical tasks.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be adults who have had a stroke and experience weakness in their arms and hands, making it hard for them to perform daily activities, like opening or closing their hands. The trial will involve 40 participants who will undergo training four times a week for four weeks. Each session will include some regular therapy exercises and a focus on either single or dual tasks that challenge both their physical and mental abilities. Participants will be evaluated before and after the training, and again three months later, to see how much their hand function has improved. This study is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable insights into effective rehabilitation methods for stroke recovery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • adults with clinical diagnosis of stroke and history of upper limb hemiparesis. Arm and hand paresis is defined as weakness according to Manual Muscle Testing (score less than 4/5 in one upper limb muscles)
• • reported difficulty in opening/closing of hand or difficulty in using the hand in daily activities
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • inability to grasp and displace an object (minimum score of 1 on Box and Block Test, BBT)
• • impaired cognition (MOCA score \<23)
• • cerebellar stroke
• • aphasia disturbing communication and understanding of training task
• • neglect interfering with ability to see task on screen