Does an intensive, functionally-based motor training program improve the hand function of people with acquired brain impairment

Intensive, task-specific, functionally-based motor retraining to improve hand function following acquired brain impairment: a randomised controlled trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12606000173594

Enrollment

Registered

2006-05-12

Start date

2006-02-27

Completion date

2007-05-01

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Many people who acquire a brain impairment (e.g. through stroke or traumatic injury) suffer significant paralysis and loss of function in their arms and hands. This loss of function is extremely disabling and effects many aspects of their daily lives. Therapists frequently provide motor retraining programs to try and help them regain functional use of their limbs. Unfortunately, there is considerable variation in the type and amount of therapy given. Current evidence also suggests that many of these patients do not regain their function despite participating in therapy. This randomised controlled trial will attempt to determine if an intensive daily program of specific functionally based hand exercises is able to improve the hand function of people with acquired brain impairment. It is hoped that its results will help to guide the current and future practice of Occupational and Physiotherapists working in rehabilitation. Final measured outcome assessor of the study is blinded.

Interventions

Intensive, task-specific, functionally-based upper limb motor retraining. Experimental:- 4 to 5.25 hours of upper limb motor training (predominately hand) per week for 6 weeks.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. ABI within past 5 years2. Unable to achieve a score greater than 45 (80%) on the Action Research Armtest3. Cognitively and physically able to participate in an intensive program of repetitive, task-specific motor re-training to improve hand function. Population: All Adults, admitted to the Rehabilitation Service at The Townsville Hospital will be screened for eligibility.

Exclusion criteria

1. Co-existing hand injury or disease other than ABI (e.g. fractures, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, peripheral nerve injury)2. Unlikely to be able to complete the 6 week study period (e.g. leaving town, medically unwell/unstable).

Outcome results