Use of a Mechanically Passive Rehabilitation Device in Vietnam: Impact on Upper Extremity Hemiparesis After Stroke

A randomized control trial design will compare two arms, consisting of the Resonating Arm Exerciser (RAE) and standard Physical Therapy (PT), with each subject receiving both treatments. Randomization will be used to determine the order in which the subject receives each treatment; i.e. RAE followed by PT, or PT followed by RAE.

At the scheduled test period, the purpose and procedure of the study will be explained via a medical translator employed by the hospital. The subject will be asked to read and sign two copies of both the Bill of Rights and the Informed Consent Form. The researcher will retain one copy for the purpose of research records and the second copy will be given to the subject. Interview and score on the Mini Mental Status Exam will determine subject's inclusion, in order for participant's cognitive state to be intact and have the capability to follow directions, give consent, participate, and communicate directly or indirectly with translators to the investigators. Administration of the Upper Extremity-Fugl Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) will be administered next for further subject eligibility. Any additional questions asked by the subject will be answered before any testing begins. Translators and researchers will be available to assist with survey administration and completion, with no maximum time allotted for each survey. Any subject who does not meet the inclusion criteria will be thanked and released from the study. Subjects who met the criteria, will continue with the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFRPS) and the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) or SIS proxy version if the subject is unable to read and write independently.

INTERVENTION Simple random sampling will be used to allocate 30 eligible participants into either the treatment group or the control group. The treatment group will use the RAE for 3 weeks, whereas the control group will continue with existing physical therapy treatment of passive range of motion (PROM) and therapeutic exercise to their involved upper extremity by the hospital physical therapist. The treatment group will participate in supervised RAE group sessions of 45 minutes, three times a week, for a total of eight sessions for three consecutive weeks. During each treatment session, the affected upper extremity will be used to push on the lever of the RAE in the sagittal plane. Upon pushing and pulling on the lever, the wheelchair moves a total of 20 cm from a neutral position, which indicated a repetition counted by a programed iphone. Researchers continuously will monitor the treatment group to ensure compliance with the use of the RAE, refrain from compensatory trunk movement and address patient discomfort. After four sessions with the RAE, the elastic band connected to the device will be stretched to an increased length, in order to increase stiffness for continued use.

At the completion of three weeks, participants in the control and treatment group will perform the UE-FMA, SIS, WBFPRS as a post-treatment measurement. The continued presence of medical translators will be utilized for the UE-FMA and for any questions the participants might have during the SIS and WBFPRS. Following data collection, participants will switch groups. Subjects in the experimental group will become the control group and receive their normal physical therapy treatment by the hospital PT for an additional three weeks. The treatment group will participate in supervised RAE group sessions in increments of 45 minutes, three times a week, a total of eight sessions for three consecutive weeks. They will be supervised by two senior licensed physical therapists Hospital, who were trained by the researchers of this study. Their training will include the proper use of the RAE and data collection of outcome measures. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability was established on the use of the UE-FMA, prior to data collection. At the conclusion of the six-week study, all participants will perform the UE-FMA, SIS, and WBFPRS. During the six-week duration of the study, an on-site medical professional and on-site translator will be present, to protect against medical complications and language barriers. Subjects will be able to refuse or drop out at any point of the study without repercussions and continue to receive uninterrupted medical care at the hospital.