Stroke
Conditions
Keywords
CouplingRehabilitation, CIMT, Stroke, impairment
Brief summary
This clinical trial aims to compare the effects of coupling rehabilitation and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) on improving arm function, hand skills, and daily activity performance in people who have upper limb weakness after a stroke. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups and receive 12 weeks of therapy, including either CIMT or coupling rehabilitation along with conventional physical therapy. The study will evaluate which method is more effective in restoring movement and independence by using standardized assessments before, during, and after the intervention. The findings may help guide future rehabilitation approaches for stroke survivors
Detailed description
This study focuses on improving upper limb recovery in people who have experienced a stroke. Stroke often leads to long-term weakness or difficulty using one arm, which can limit a person's ability to perform everyday tasks such as dressing, eating, or writing. The study explores two promising rehabilitation strategies-Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Coupling Rehabilitation-that may help improve arm movement, hand coordination, and independence in daily life. Participants will take part in therapy sessions over a 12-week period, during which they will engage in structured, goal-oriented exercises tailored to their physical abilities. The research team will monitor changes in motor function and hand dexterity through standard assessments administered at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the study. By comparing outcomes between the two groups, the study seeks to identify which therapy method is more effective in promoting functional recovery after stroke, with the goal of enhancing rehabilitation practices in clinical settings.
Interventions
Participants in this group will receive modified CIMT in combination with conventional physical therapy. The unaffected arm will be restrained to encourage use of the affected upper limb. Task-specific exercises will include fine motor tasks, strengthening, reaching, and functional movement training. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will be conducted three times per week for 12 weeks.
OTHERCoupling Rehabilitation
Participants in this group will receive Coupling Rehabilitation in addition to conventional physical therapy. This method involves bilateral arm training and functional tasks designed to improve coordination between both upper limbs, using the unaffected limb to guide movement in the affected one. Exercises will include trunk-supported reaching, object retrieval, and posture-supported task practice. Sessions will occur three times per week for 12 weeks, each lasting approximately 45-60 minutes.
Sponsors
University of Lahore
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
•Age 40-65 years old * Patients suffering from Sub acute stroke * Motor function score at Fugl-Meyer Assessment between 40-60 * Fine motor assessment at Box and Block Test\<20 * ADL's assessment at Motor Activity Log: Amount of use scale\<2.5 Quality of movement scale\<3 \-
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals suffering from unstable angina, symptomatic heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension * Physician determined unstable cardiovascular conditions * The patient has been diagnosed as having organ failure, including the heart, kidneys, and lungs * Patients with any traumatic musculoskeletal injury to upper limbs * Individuals who are experiencing cognitive impairment as a result of neurological conditions other than stroke.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement in Upper Limb Motor Function Using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) | Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention | This outcome assesses changes in motor control and function of the affected upper limb using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, a validated stroke-specific performance test. Higher scores reflect better motor recovery. |
| Change in Hand Dexterity Using the Box and Block Test (BBT) | Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention | This outcome evaluates fine motor skills and hand coordination by measuring the number of blocks a participant can move from one compartment to another in one minute using the affected hand. Higher scores indicate better hand dexterity. |
| Change in Performance of Daily Activities Using the Motor Activity Log (MAL) | Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention | This outcome assesses real-world use of the affected upper limb in daily activities using the MAL questionnaire. It includes two subscales: Amount of Use (AOU) and Quality of Movement (QOM). Higher scores indicate better function and limb use. |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
Primary ContactLaraib Akbar, MSPTN
Backup ContactAyesha Jamil, BSPT, TDPT, M PHIL. PT
Outcome results
None listed