Stroke, Upper Limb Paresis
Conditions
Keywords
stroke, follow up, upper limb, rehabilitation
Brief summary
Sensory and/or motor deficits in upper limb following stroke often have negative impacts on their daily living. Thermal stimulation with hot and cold pack alternatively incorporated into conventional rehabilitation has been reported and proved to be effective for upper limb functional recovery after stroke. However, whether hot- and cold-water stimulation alternatively based on thermal stimulation also has the effect still remains unknown. The aim of present study is to investigate the facilitated effect of hot and cold water stimulation alternatively on upper limb after stroke.
Detailed description
Stroke patients from department of rehabilitation in Tzu Chi general hospital will be recruited and randomized into two groups, one for experimental group and the other for control group. In addition to receiving routine standard rehabilitation for both groups, the experimental group will receive additional hot- and cold-water stimulation alternatively for five times one session, consecutive four sessions a set, one set for 30 minutes a day and five sets a week for six weeks. The control group will be given ergometer exercises with the similar duration as experimental group. Both groups will be evaluated at baseline before TS and every two weeks till six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. A variety of evaluations used in the present study include Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments for sensory functions; Brunnstrom's stage, Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale and Motricity Index were used for upper limb motor control and strength; Box and block test for hand dexterity. The modified Motor Assessment Scale and Barthel Index are utilized for evaluating general motor functions and daily activity performance, respectively. The modified Ashworth scale is used for change of muscle tone of upper limb.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALthermal stimulation
The heat and cold-water will be added to the thermal group for 30-40minutes a session daily,five sessions a week for six weeks.
BEHAVIORALcontrol group ergometer exercises
The control group will be given ergometer exercises with the similar duration as experimental group.
Sponsors
Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* a first-time ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. * no severe diabetes or peripheral vascular disease causing sensory deficits. * no cognition problem and follow directions indicated by therapist during experiment. * motor deficit of the upper limb under (including) Brunnstrom stage IV, either in the arm or hand.
Exclusion criteria
* a cardiac disease or orthopedic problem history, * medically unstable such as experienced unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension according to the treating physician, psychological history before stroke.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for stroke upper limb recovery | one year | The investigators will use the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale as the primary outcome measures in this study evaluating at baseline before TS and six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. |
| motricity index | one year | The investigators will use the motricity index as the primary outcome measures in this study evaluating at baseline before TS and six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments for sensory functions | one year | The investigators selected the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments for sensory functions as our secondary outcome measures evaluating at baseline before TS and six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. |
| the modified motor assessment scale | one year | The investigators used the modified motor assessment scale as the primary outcome measures in this study evaluating at baseline before TS and six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. |
| Barthel index | one year | The investigators used the Barthel index as the primary outcome measures in this study evaluating at baseline before TS and six weeks after TS, then at 3, 6 and 12 months for follow-up. |
Countries
Taiwan
Outcome results
None listed