None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Purpose of study is to explore the effect of an early intensive arm movement program in patients who have suffered a stroke within the past four weeks, in order to see if greater neuroplastic changes are driven resulting in improved functional recovery. It is hypothesised that an increase in the amount of arm movement by patients in the intervention (early intensive arm movement) group will have greater arm functional recovery compared to patients in the control (usual care and routine therapy) group.
Interventions
Prescription of an early active movement arm program to patients with arm weakness in the acute stage post-stroke by a Physiotherapist. This will be provided in addition to usual care and routine therapy.
An evidence-based algorithm in the form of an smartphone application developed by an international working party including the applicant will be used to guide the intervention for the intervention group. This algorithm directs the therapist towards the most appropriate evidence-based therapy in
Prescription of an early active movement arm program to patients with arm weakness in the acute stage post-stroke by a Physiotherapist. This will be provided in addition to usual care and routine therapy. An evidence-based algorithm in the form of an smartphone application developed by an international working party including the applicant will be used to guide the intervention for the intervention group. This algorithm directs the therapist towards the most appropriate evidence-based therapy interventions based on the amount of residual movement in their affected arm (www.viatherapy.org/about). This will allow for the most appropriate therapy to be provided to the patient. The research physiotherapist will prescribe a set of exercises, based on this approach, and teach them to the patient with the assistance of either their carer (where available) or the research assistant. Participants will be asked to complete their exercises for one hour each day, every day for 4 weeks. They will complete an exercise diary, and their exercises will be reviewed, progressed and updated weekly.
Sponsors
Michelle McDonnell
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) stroke unit with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke. An ability to provide informed consent to participate in the study or a guardian/family members approval to participate. Patients within the acute stage post-stroke (first 4 weeks poststroke, first or recurrent stroke), with an upper-limb impairment. All ranges of stroke severity, ages, genders and past medical history.
Exclusion criteria
Patients deemed for palliative care. Patient and/or therapist refusal to provide consent. Patients unable to provide consent (dysphasia or language barrier), unable to seek guardian consent or inability to communicate in English). Patients <18 years of age.
Outcome results
None listed