Wearable Device and Behavioral Support for Enhancing Arm Use After Stroke

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE · Jun 19, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether using a wearable device combined with behavioral support can help improve arm movement and function in people who have had a stroke more than six months ago. The wearable device tracks how much the affected arm is moving and provides feedback to encourage more use, while behavioral support helps motivate and guide participants. The goal is to see if this approach can help stroke survivors regain better use of their arm.

To join the study, participants need to be between 18 and 85 years old and have had one or more strokes that caused weakness on one side of the body at least six months before starting the trial. They should have some ability to move their affected arm, but it should be weaker than the other arm. People with serious depression, recent strokes, severe muscle stiffness, major health problems, or those currently in other stroke studies would not be eligible. Participants can expect to wear the device and receive support aimed at helping them use their arm more in daily life. This study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to find new ways to help people improve arm function after stroke.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 to 85 years of age
• • Experienced a single or multiple, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, with unilateral weakness, over six months previously
• • An ability to score at least 3 blocks on the Box and Block Test. BBT score of the affected arm is at least 5% worse than that present with the unaffected arm.
• • Absence of major depression, as defined by DSM V criteria or a score on the Geriatric Depression Scale \< 10.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Any substantial decrease in alertness, language reception, or attention
• • Single or multiple, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke less than 6 months ago
• • Severe muscle tone at the upper extremity (score ≥ 3 on the Modified Ashworth Spasticity scale)
• • Pregnant or lactating
• • Advanced liver, kidney, cardiac, or pulmonary disease
• • Coexistent major neurological disease
• • Coexistent major psychiatric disease
• • Plans to alter any current participation in other rehabilitation therapy in the time period of the study
• • A terminal medical diagnosis consistent with survival \< 1 year
• • A history of significant alcohol or drug abuse in the prior 3 years
• • Current enrollment in another study related to stroke or stroke recovery
• • Any other medical contraindication to participation in the study, as evaluated by our team physician.
• • Visual Analog of Pain Scale Score of 7 or greater