Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
This is a single arm study aimed at evaluating the acute effects induced by a single session of robot-assisted passive hand mobilization on local perfusion and upper limb function in post-stroke hemiparetic patients. Twenty-three participants with subacute or chronic stroke received 20 min passive mobilization of the paretic hand with robotic assistance. After the intervention, significant improvements were found in forearm perfusion, muscle tone significantly decreased and subjects reported decreased upper limb heaviness, stiffness and pain. This study supports novel evidence that hand robotic assistance promotes local forearm circulation, may help in the management of spasticity and acutely alleviates reported symptoms of heaviness, stiffness and pain in subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis.
Interventions
DEVICERobotic passive mobilization
The intervention was performed using the Gloreha (Idrogenet, Italy) robotic system. The system consists of a soft exoskeleton similar to a glove. Passive hand joints mobilization is provided by a hydraulic system. Each patient underwent a session of 20 min passive mobilization of the paretic hand.
Sponsors
Università degli Studi di Brescia
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* first event of cerebrovascular stroke; unilateral paresis; ability to remain in sitting position
Exclusion criteria
* bilateral impairment; cognitive or behaviorql dysfunctions; finger flexion contracture; degenerative or non degenerative neurological conditions; refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forearm perfusion | 30 minutes | Amount of total hemoglobin circulating in the forearm muscle tissues. |
| Muscle tone | 30 minutes | The tone of the muscle assessed with Modified Ashworth Scale |
Outcome results
None listed