Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Plus Sensory Components After Stroke

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-89
SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham

About this trial

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy or CI Therapy is a form of treatment that systematically employs the application of selected behavioral techniques delivered in intensive treatment over consecutive day with the following strategies utilized: behavioral strategies are implemented to improve the use of the more- affected limb in life situation called a Transfer Package (TP), motor training using a technique called shaping to make progress in successive approximations, repetitive, task oriented training, and strategies to encourage or constrain participants to use the more-affected extremity including restraint of the less-affected arm in the upper extremity (UE) protocol. Numerous studies examining the application of CI therapy with UE rehabilitation after stroke have demonstrated strong evidence for improving the amount of use and the quality of the more-affected UE functional use in the participant's daily life situation.

CI Therapy studies with adults, to date, have explored intensive treatment for participants with a range from mild-to-severe motor impairment following stroke with noted motor deficits and limited use of the more-affected arm and hand in everyday activities. Each CI Therapy protocol was designed for the level of impairment demonstrated by participants recruited for the study. However, often following stroke, patients not only have motor deficits but somatosensory impairments as well. The somatosensory issues have not, as yet, been systematically measured and trained in CI Therapy protocols with adults and represent an understudied area of stroke recovery. We hypothesize that participants with mild-to-severe motor impairment and UE functional use deficits can benefit from CI therapy protocols that include somatosensory measurement and training components substituted for portions of motor training without loss in outcome measure gains. Further, we hypothesize that adults can improve somatosensory outcomes as a result of a combined CI therapy plus somatosensory component protocol.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

At least 6 months post stroke

The ability to demonstrate the minimum UE active movement criteria of shoulder ≥ 30 toward flexion or abduction, initiate movement at the elbow for flexion and extension, and initiate movement at the wrist, fingers, or thumb.

Mean score of <2.5 on the Motor Activity Log/ G4/5 Motor Activity Log indicating the participant's use of the more-affected UE.

Disqualifiers

Score< 24 on the Mini Mental State Exam

Inability to answer the MAL/ G4/5 MAL questions and/or provide informed consent

The inability to come in to the laboratory setting for treatment.

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Grade 2-5 CI Therapy + Sensory Components

    Behavioral

    All participants will receive CI Therapy + Sensory Components over a 2-3 weeks time frame. The treatment intervention will apply all CI Therapy treatment components to include: 1) a behavioral set of techniques called the Transfer Package (TP) to promote carry-over of skills that were gained in the laboratory into the participant's life situation, 2) the use of motor training called shaping to make progress in small approximations 3) the use by the participant of a mitt on the less-affected hand to encourage use of the more-affected hand and 4) home skills and home work will be provided each day for at least 30 minutes. Sensory component training strategies will be added to stimulate sensory input through the more-affected arm an dhand as well as to train sensory discrimination skills.

Treatment groups

15 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Grade 2-5 CI Therapy + Sensory ComponentsExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Motor Activity Log

The Motor Activity Log is a semi-structured interview that assesses the amount of use and the quality of use of the more-affected UE in 30 activities of daily living. This test is used to determine the change how much and how well the participant uses the more-affected arm and hand outside of the laboratory setting and in the life situation. It is administered before and after treatment. The score is derived from two scales that are each 0-5 and reported as a mean for the Amount of Use (AOU) and mean for the Quality of Use (QOM).

Time frame
At post treatment after 2 weeks of intervention for participants with mild-moderate UE impairment
2

Motor Activity Log

The Motor Activity Log is a semi-structured interview that assesses the amount of use and the quality of use of the more-affected UE in 30 activities of daily living. This test is used to determine the change how much and how well the participant uses the more-affected arm and hand outside of the laboratory setting and in the life situation. It is administered before and after treatment. The score is derived from two scales that are each 0-5 and reported as a mean for the Amount of Use (AOU) and mean for the Quality of Use (QOM).

Time frame
At 3 month follow up after the end of treatment
3

G4/5 Motor Activity Log

The G4/5 Motor Activity Log is a semi-structured interview that assesses the amount of use and the quality of use of the more-affected UE in 30 activities of daily living. This test is used to determine the change how much and how well the participant uses the more-affected arm and hand outside of the laboratory setting and in the life situation. It is administered before and after treatment. The score is derived from two scales that are each 0-5 and reported as a mean for the Amount of Use (AOU) and mean for the Quality of Use (QOM).

Time frame
At post treatment after 3 weeks of intervention for participants with severe UE impairment
4

G4/5 Motor Activity Log (G4/5 MAL)

The G4/5 Motor Activity Log is a semi-structured interview that assesses the amount of use and the quality of use of the more-affected UE in 30 activities of daily living. This test is used to determine the change how much and how well the participant uses the more-affected arm and hand outside of the laboratory setting and in the life situation. It is administered before and after treatment. The score is derived from two scales that are each 0-5 and reported as a mean for the Amount of Use (AOU) and mean for the Quality of Use (QOM).

Time frame
At 3 month follow up after the end of treatment

Secondary outcomes

1

Zung Depression Scale (ZDS)

The ZDS is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures symptoms of depression. A total score is calculated by summing the individual items. The range of the scores is 20-80. Higher scores indicate more symptoms with a score of 70 or higher as severe depression. Administered before treatment, after treatment, and in followup at 3 months out from the treatment to detect changes in mood.

Time frame
At post treatment after 2-3 weeks of treatment, depending on the severity of the impairment
2

Zung Depression Scale (ZDS)

The ZDS is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures symptoms of depression. A total score is calculated by summing the individual items. The range of the scores is 20-80. Higher scores indicate more symptoms with a score of 70 or higher as severe. on. A total score is calculated by summing the individual items. The range of the scores is 20-80. Higher scores indicate more symptoms with a score of 70 or higher as severe depression. Administered before treatment, after treatment, and in follow-up at 3 months out from the treatment to detect changes in mood.

Time frame
At 3 month followup after the end of treatment.
3

Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)

The SIS is a self-report measure of 8 domains of quality of life and disability following stroke. The scoring can range from 1-100 with a higher score indicating a better quality of life and less disability. The SIS is administered in this study at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3 month follow-up to detect changes in quality of life as a result of the treatment.

Time frame
At post-treatment following the 2-3 weeks of treatment, depending on severity of the impairment.
4

Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)

The SIS is a self-report measure of 8 domains of quality of life and disability following stroke. The scoring can range from 1-100 with a higher score indicating a better quality of life and less disability. The SIS is administered in this study at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3 month follow-up to detect changes in quality of life as a result of the treatment.

Time frame
At 3 months follow-up after the end of treatment.

Other outcomes

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