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Cerebrovascular AccidentNCT01727648

Effects of RAT in Sequential Combination With CIT in Stroke Rehabilitation

A study testing RT in sequential combination with dCIT, Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy and Robot-Assisted Therapy in people with Cerebrovascular Accident, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The findings of this project will contribute to the understanding of a comprehensive probe for investigation of the effects of monotherapy versus combination rehabilitation intervention after stroke, including the topics of possible underlying mechanisms of motor recovery as well as the beneficial and adverse effects… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Cerebrovascular Accident
What is being tested?
RT in sequential combination with dCIT, Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy and Robot-Assisted Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
92 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
Aug 2012to Jul 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 6 months onset from a first-ever unilateral stroke
  • An initial UL subsection of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment score of 20 to 50 indicating moderate and moderate to severe UL movement impairment
  • No balance problems sufficient to compromise safety when wearing the study's constraint device
  • No excessive spasticity in any of the joints of the affected UL (modified Ashworth scale ≤ 3)
  • Without upper limb fracture within 3 months
  • Be able to follow study instructions and perform study tasks (Mini Mental State Examination ≥ 24)
  • Willing to provide written informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Exhibit physician-determined major medical problems or poor physical conditions that would interfere with participation
  • Excessive pain in any joint that might limit participation

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Keh-chung Lin, ScD contact

886-2-33668180

kehchunglin@ntu.edu.tw

Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Taipei, 100

    Keh-chung Lin, ScD, +886-2-33668180, kehchunglin@ntu.edu.tw

    Keh-chung Lin, ScD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Official title: Effects of Robot-Assisted Therapy in Sequential Combination With Constraint-Induced Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation

The findings of this project will contribute to the understanding of a comprehensive probe for investigation of the effects of monotherapy versus combination rehabilitation intervention after stroke, including the topics of possible underlying mechanisms of motor recovery as well as the beneficial and adverse effects of intense rehabilitation therapy, prognostic factors of the outcomes, and clinimetric properties of the instruments. The overall findings of this project will be significant in the era of knowledge translation and guide the development of innovative and effective interventions for individualized stroke rehabilitation.

Read the detailed description

The overall goal of this research project will be to provide scientific evidence of the robot-assisted therapy in sequential combination with distributed constraint-induced therapy (RT + dCIT)versus monotherapy of the robot-assisted therapy (RT), distributed constraint-induced therapy (dCIT), and a dose-matched control therapy (DMCT)in stroke rehabilitation. The specific aims of this proposed research are identified as follows:

  1. The investigators will investigate the treatment effects of RT + dCIT compared to RT, CIT, and DMCT on motor ability, muscle function, sensory function, daily performance, real-world arm activity, quality of life, and motor control variables at before treatment, midterm assessment, and after treatment. In addition to study of treatment benefits, physiological responses as the potential adverse effects including post-exertional fatigue, post-exertional pain, and a biomarker of oxidative stress will be also examined in this project. The investigators hypothesized that the therapeutic regimen combining RT with dCIT will contribute to more significantly reduction in impairment and disability for stroke patients than the other intervention groups.
  2. The investigators will investigate if the clinical characteristics or behavioral markers of stroke patients will influence the outcomes after interventions. The proposed potential predictors will be chronicity, side of lesion, muscle tone, motor ability of distal part of upper limb, and amount of affected hand use.
  3. The investigators will examine whether the improved scores after each treatment reach clinically important changes in order to establish the clinical significance relevant for individualized medicine. The investigators will also assess and compare the clinimetric properties (e.g., validity, responsiveness, minimal detectable change, and minimal clinically important difference) of the rehabilitation outcomes to inform selection of instruments.
Being tested
RT in sequential combination with dCIT, Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy, Robot-Assisted Therapy, Dose-matched control therapy
Keywords
Stroke rehabilitation, Comparative efficacy research, Combined therapy, Robot-Assisted Therapy, Constraint-Induced Therapy, Kinematic analysis
Medical subject headings
Stroke

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • RT in sequential combination with dCITBehavioural

    Also called RT+dCIT

    The participants will received 2 weeks of RT therapy using the ArmeoSpring and followed by 2 weeks of distributed CIT therapy. The treatment principles of RT and distributed CIT are the same with those described in the monotherapy of RT or dCIT, respectively.

  • Distributed Constraint-Induced TherapyBehavioural

    Also called dCIT

    The dCIT group will focus on restriction on movement of the unaffected hand by placement of the hand in a mitt for 6 hours/day and intensive training of the affected UL in functional tasks for 1.5 hours/weekday over the 4 weeks. Participants in this group will focus on the intensive training of the affected arm in functional activities with behavioral shaping.

  • Robot-Assisted TherapyBehavioural

    Also called RT

    Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). The ArmeoSpring (Hocoma AG, Switzerland) will be used in this project. It is a 5 degree-of-freedom skeleton mechanism that automates arm movement in a gravity-supported and computer-enhanced environment. The design of the arm support component of the ArmeoSpring is based on Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, an antigravity arm support. Instrumentation of the ArmeoSpring with position sensors at each joint enables it to be used as a 3D input device for computer game play with the hemiparetic arm. A custom software package named Vu Therapy will be also used in this project. Games were designed to simulate functional arm movements to provide training in a simple virtual reality environment.

  • Dose-matched control therapyBehavioural

    Also called DMCT

    Participants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). This group will received a structured protocol using conventional occupational therapy techniques such as neuro-developmental techniques with emphasis on functional tasks and muscle strengthening. The treatment protocol will include (1) passive range of motion exercises, stretching of the affected limb, or facilitatory and inhibitory techniques for 15 to 20 minutes, (2) fine motor or dexterity training for 20 minutes, (3) arm exercises or gross motor training for 20 minutes, (4) muscle strengthening of the affected upper limb for 15 to 20 minutes, and (5) activities of daily living or functional tasks training for 15 to 20 minutes.

Study groups in NCT01727648
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
RT in sequential combination with dCITExperimentalThe participants will received 2 weeks of RT therapy and followed by 2 weeks of distributed CIT therapy. The treatment principles of RT and distributed CIT are the same with those described in the monotherapy of RT or dCIT, respectively.
Receives: Behavioral: RT in sequential combination with dCIT
Distributed Constraint-Induced TherapyExperimentalThe dCIT group will focus on restriction on movement of the unaffected hand by placement of the hand in a mitt for 6 hours/day and intensive training of the affected UL in functional tasks for 1.5 hours/weekday over the 4 weeks. Participants in this group will focus on the intensive training of the affected arm in functional activities with behavioral shaping.
Receives: Behavioral: Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy
Robot-Assisted TherapyExperimentalParticipants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). The ArmeoSpring will be used in this project. It is a 5 degree-of-freedom skeleton mechanism that automates arm movement in a gravity-supported and computer-enhanced environment. The design of the arm support component of the ArmeoSpring is based on Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton, an antigravity arm support. Instrumentation of the ArmeoSpring with position sensors at each joint enables it to be used as a 3D input device for computer game play with the hemiparetic arm. A custom software package named Vu Therapy will be also used in this project. Games were designed to simulate functional arm movements to provide training in a simple virtual reality environment.
Receives: Behavioral: Robot-Assisted Therapy
Dose-matched control therapyActive comparatorParticipants will receive 20 training sessions (1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 consecutive weeks). This group will received a structured protocol using conventional occupational therapy techniques such as neuro-developmental techniques with emphasis on functional tasks and muscle strengthening. The treatment protocol will include (1) passive range of motion exercises, stretching of the affected limb, or facilitatory and inhibitory techniques for 15 to 20 minutes, (2) fine motor or dexterity training for 20 minutes, (3) arm exercises or gross motor training for 20 minutes, (4) muscle strengthening of the affected upper limb for 15 to 20 minutes, and (5) activities of daily living or functional tasks training for 15 to 20 minutes.
Receives: Behavioral: Dose-matched control therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA)

    The upper-extremity subscale of the FMA will be used to assess motor impairment. The 33 upper limb items measure the movement and reflexes of the shoulder/elbow/forearm, wrist, hand, and coordination/speed. They are scored on a 3-point ordinal scale (0-cannot perform, 1-performs partially, 2-performs fully). The maximum score is 66, indicating optimal recovery.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Functional Independence Measure (FIM)

    The FIM consists of 18 items grouped into 6 subscales measuring self-care, sphincter control, transfer, locomotion, communication, and social cognition ability. Each item is rated from 1 to 7 (maximum score 126) based on the required level of assistance to perform the tasks (e.g., 1-complete assistance and 7-complete independence). A higher score on any subscale indicates a less disability.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  2. Stroke Impact Scale Version 3.0 (SIS 3.0)

    The SIS 3.0 is a stroke-specific instrument of health-related quality of life. It contains 59 items measuring 8 domains (i.e., strength, hand function, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, mobility, communication, emotion. memory and thinking and participation) with a single item assessing perceived overall recovery from stroke. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale with lower scores indicating greater difficulty in task completion during the past week. Aggregate scores, ranges from 0 to 100, are generated for each domain.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  3. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for assessing post-exertional fatigue and pain

    The visual analogue fatigue scale (VAFS) and visual analogue pain scale (VAPS) will be used to assess the level of post-exertional fatigue and post-exertional pain. The VAS consists of score ranges from 0 to 100 measured in millimeters on a 10-cm vertical line. The scores will be obtained by measuring the lines from "no fatigue" to "very severe fatigue" and from "no pain" to "very severe pain".

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  4. Actigraphy

    The activity monitors, Actigraphy (Ambulatory Monitoring Inc., New York), quantitatively recording the amount of activity in free-living conditions, will be used to reflect increase in the amount of affected arm use over time. The participants will be asked to wear an Actigraphy on each wrist for 3 consecutive days to measure what amount they actually do in their daily life. The Actigraphy can be attached to the subject's limb and measures the motion of that limb through an accelerometer.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  5. Motor Status Score (MSS)

    The MSS examines shoulder, elbow (maximum score = 40), wrist, hand, and finger movements (maximum score = 42). The MSS isolates and grades movements of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist using a 6-point scale (0, -1, 1, +1, -2, and 2), ranging from no volitional movement to perform movements faultlessly. Scoring for the hand is based on a 3-point scale (0, 1, and 2).

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  6. Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT)

    The WMFT requires the participant to perform 15 function-based and 2 strength-based tasks. The tasks are averaged to produce a score in seconds that ranges from 0 to 120 seconds. For functional ability scoring, we used a 6-point ordinal scale where 0 indicates "does not attempt with the involved arm" and 5 indicates "arm does participate; movement appears to be normal."

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  7. Medical Research Council scale (MRC)

    The MRC scale examines muscle power of the affected arm. The MRC scale is reliable measurement in stroke patients with score ranged from 0 to 5. Grade of 0 indicates no contraction, 1: flicker or trace contraction, 2: active movement, with gravity eliminated, 3: active movement against gravity, 4: active movement against gravity and resistance, and 5: normal power.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  8. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    The MAS is one of the most frequently used of the clinical scales for assessing muscle spasticity by means of a quick stretch response. Muscle tone of upper limb will be evaluated by the MAS in this project. The scoring of the MAS ranges from 0 (no increase in muscle tone) to 4 (affected part rigid).

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  9. Revised Nottingham Sensory Assessment (RNSA)

    The RNSA includes tactile sensation, kinesthetic sensation, and stereognosis. For tactile sensation, the patient will be asked to indicate whenever he or she feels the test sensation. For kinesthetic sensations, all 3 aspects of movement will be tested: appreciation of movement, its direction and accurate joint position sense. For stereognosis, the object will be placed in the patient's hand for a maximum of 30 seconds. Identification is by naming, description or by pair-matching with an identical set.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

  10. Myoton

    The functional state of skeletal muscle was assessed by using myotonometric measurements with the Myoton (Muomeetria Ltd, Estonia) device, created at the University of Tartu in Estonia. The MYOTON represents a noninvasive way to characterize the viscoelastic properties of skeletal muscle in vivo. Three measurement parameters in the MYOTON: F - Frequency, Hz, characterizes muscle tone; D - Decrement, characterizes muscle elasticity; S - Stiffness, N/m, characterizes muscle stiffness.

    Measured: An expected average of 4 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Nov 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 2012
  3. Primary completionJul 2015 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJul 2015 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
92 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01727648
Sponsor's protocol ID
201112104RIB
Status last verified
Dec 2012
First submitted
23 Apr 2012
Last updated
20 Dec 2012
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Hsieh YW, Liing RJ, Lin KC, Wu CY, Liou TH, Lin JC, Hung JW. Sequencing bilateral robot-assisted arm therapy and constraint-induced therapy improves reach to press and trunk kinematics in patients with stroke. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2016 Mar 22;13:31. doi: 10.1186/s12984-016-0138-5.

    PubMed 27000446
  • Hsieh YW, Lin KC, Horng YS, Wu CY, Wu TC, Ku FL. Sequential combination of robot-assisted therapy and constraint-induced therapy in stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurol. 2014 May;261(5):1037-45. doi: 10.1007/s00415-014-7345-4. Epub 2014 Apr 20.

    PubMed 24748465

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing RT in sequential combination with dCIT, Distributed Constraint-Induced Therapy and Robot-Assisted Therapy in people with Cerebrovascular Accident, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Dec 2012. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Keh-chung Lin, ScD (886-2-33668180, kehchunglin@ntu.edu.tw), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) (time frame: An expected average of 4 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01727648, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Dec 2012.

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