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StrokeBoostNCT05880940

Comparing Different Rehabilitation Exercise Strategies for Improving Arm Recovery After Stroke

A study testing Boost - Moveable Wheelchair Armrest and Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise Program in people with Stroke, run by University of California, Irvine at 3 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this research study is to measure the effect of participating in extra arm exercise in addition to standard rehabilitation exercises in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit. This study will compare two different ways to perform the extra arm exercise. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 84 years
Conditions the study is for
Stroke
What is being tested?
Boost - Moveable Wheelchair Armrest and Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise Program
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
35 participants
Where
3 sitesUnited States
Study dates
15 Sep 2023to 28 Feb 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 18 to 84 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 to 84 years of age
  • Experienced a single stroke or multiple strokes >3 days and < 4 weeks prior to study enrollment, and currently admitted or accepted into Acute Rehabilitation program for stroke.
  • UE Fugl-Meyer Motor Score <42/66
  • Absence of moderate to severe shoulder pain while using the movable wheelchair arm rest device (<6 on the 10-point visual analog pain scale)
  • Absence of severe tone at the affected UE (score <4 on the Modified Ashworth Spasticity Scale)
  • Deem to be an appropriate candidate for manual wheelchair by ARU clinicians. A patient who has been able to transfer into a wheelchair while at ARU (with or without assistance) and has tolerated sitting in the wheelchair for at least 30 minutes.

Who cannot join

  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Presence of other neurological or psychological disorders affecting motor functions
  • Moderate to severe pain in the stroke-affected upper extremity (score > 6 on 10-point visual analog pain scale), while using the movable wheelchair arm rest device
  • Severe tone at the affected upper extremity (score > 4 on the Modified Ashworth Spasticity scale)
  • Severe aphasia (score of 2 or higher on the NIH stroke scale - question 9). PI may dismiss this criterion if the participant is deemed able to follow all study instructions.
  • Deficits in vision, language, attention, neglect, or other cognitive functions severe enough to interfere with safe operation of wheelchair or the movable wheelchair arm rest device.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Currently pregnant
  • Difficulty in understanding or complying with instructions given by the experimenter.
  • Inability to perform the experimental task that will be studied.
  • Not part of another upper extremity motor-related interventional study

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

United States3 sites
  • Rancho Research Institute

    Downey, California, 90242

  • University of California Irvine

    Orange, California, 92868

  • Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare

    Pomona, California, 91767

Other trials in United States

About this study

The purpose of this research study is to measure the effect of participating in extra arm exercise in addition to standard rehabilitation exercises in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit. This study will compare two different ways to perform the extra arm exercise. The first is following a customized program of hand and arm exercises that will be developed for study participants by an experienced rehabilitation therapist. The second is moving a participants arm back and forth when they are sitting in their wheelchair by using a moveable wheelchair arm rest (Boost).

Read the detailed description

For this study, the investigators hypothesize that use of movable wheelchair arm rest device during inpatient therapy will lead to significantly greater improvements in UE motor recovery than conventional treatment. The Aim is to perform a randomized controlled trial of the movable wheelchair arm rest device with inpatients with subacute stroke in three different inpatient rehabilitation facilities (N=58; Months 6-24). Participants will be >3 days and <3 weeks post-stroke, with initial FM scores <42/66. All participants will be stratified by their Fugl-Meyer Arm Motor score at the baseline evaluation into two levels (0-21, 22-42) and then randomized by permuted block allocation to receive the movable wheelchair arm rest device or an electronic exercise program. All study participants will be instructed to practice moving their arm between regular therapy sessions. The primary outcome measure will be change in FM score from baseline to three-months post-stroke. The investigators hypothesize that participants who receive movable wheelchair arm rest device will have significantly greater improvements in FM score than control (p<0.05, RM-ANCOVA) without an increase in pain or spasticity, if they exceed the putative threshold of UE motor drive needed for recovery. Success Criteria: A significantly greater increase in FM of >4.25 points (the FM MCID40) between movable wheelchair arm rest device and control at three months.

Conditions
Stroke
Being tested
Boost - Moveable Wheelchair Armrest, Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise Program
Keywords
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
Medical subject headings
Stroke

What participants receive

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

  • Boost - Moveable Wheelchair ArmrestDevice

    The movable wheelchair arm rest device is a novel wheelchair armrest that quickly clicks into a manual wheelchair frame just like a conventional armrest. However, unlike a conventional armrest, the movable wheelchair arm rest device allows users to activate arm muscles in a way that is appropriate for the early stages of stroke recovery and consistent with the Feys et al. rocking chair approach: with biomechanical support of the shoulder, without high cognitive demand, and focusing on the "out-of-synergy" movement pattern that requires elbow extension. For the study, the investigators ask participants to exercise using Boost for a 30-minute period per day for 5 times a week in addition to their regular therapy until their discharge from the unit.

  • Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise ProgramBehavioural

    These exercises will be assigned to the participants electronically using a commercial home exercise program platform commonly used by hospital systems (i.e.: Medbridge). They will be encouraged to exercise for 30 min/day in addition to the regular rehabilitation therapy at ARU. These exercises will be monitored and supervised by therapists who have been trained in the study protocol. Once participants are discharged from the unit, they will be allowed to keep the electronic exercise program until their 3-month post stroke follow up visit, the last visit of the study. For this study, the investigators ask participants to exercise following this customized arm and hand exercise program for a 30-minute period per day for 5 times a week in addition to their regular therapy until their discharge from the unit.

Study groups in NCT05880940
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Boost - Moveable wheelchair Arm restExperimentalMovable wheelchair arm rest device group: participants in this group will be provided with a wheelchair equipped with movable wheelchair arm rest device and will be trained by training therapists on how to use the device. Therapists will determine if the participant is capable of using the device in either a stationary mode or overground mode. Afterwards, participants will be allowed to utilize the device within the inpatient facility on their own. The investigators encourage at least 30 minutes per day of device use, although this is not required or limited to 30 minutes. Therapists may adjust the difficulty of the device utilize to provide additional challenge as they deem suitable for the participant. Once participants are discharged from the unit, they will be allowed to keep the movable wheelchair arm rest devices until their 3-month post stroke follow up visit, the last visit of the study.
Receives: Device: Boost - Moveable Wheelchair Armrest
Electronic Arm ExercisesActive comparatorElectronic exercise program designed by training therapists. These exercises will be assigned to the participants electronically using a commercial home exercise program platform commonly used by hospital systems (i.e.: Medbridge). They will be encouraged to exercise for 30 min/day in addition to the regular rehabilitation therapy at Acute Rehab Unit (ARU), although this is not required or limited to 30 minutes. Therapists may adjust the difficulty of exercise program to provide additional challenge as they deem suitable for the participant. Once participants are discharged from the unit, they will be allowed to keep the electronic exercise program until their 3-month post stroke follow up visit, the last visit of the study.
Receives: Behavioral: Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise Program

What is being measured

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

  1. Fugl-Meyer Arm Motor Assessment Score (FMAMA)

    The investigators measure the change of the Fugl-Meyer Arm Motor Assessment scores from the baseline evaluation to the 3-month post stroke follow up evaluation. Fugl-Meyer Arm Motor Assessment is a 66-point scale measuring the movement pattern of the upper extremities. The minimum score is zero and the maximum score is 66. The higher scores indicate a better outcome.

    Measured: Baseline upon admission (assessed within 3 days upon admission), Post-intervention evaluation at discharge (At discharge: assessed up to 3 weeks post baseline), and 3-month post-stroke evaluation (Follow up occurred at Month 3 after Baseline)

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Modified Ashworth Spasticity Scale (MASS)

    The investigators measure the spasticity of the upper extremity at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 3-month post stroke follow up evaluation. Spasticity is described as the resistance to passive movement. Participants are asked to relax and evaluators assess muscle resistance to passive movement at one joint at a time: Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. The evaluator will then grade the resistance on a 6-point scale for each joint. Higher scores indicate more rigid movement or more muscle tone resistance. The minimum score is zero and the maximum score is 4.

    Measured: Baseline upon admission (assessed within 3 days upon admission), Post-intervention evaluation at discharge (At discharge: assessed up to 3 weeks post baseline), and 3-month post-stroke evaluation (Follow up occurred at Month 3 after Baseline)

  2. Box and Blocks Test

    The investigators measure the Box and Blocks Test scores at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3-month post stroke follow up evaluation. Participants are instructed to move as many blocks as possible, one at a time, from one compartment in a box to a second compartment over a divider for a period of 60 seconds; each block that is moved is counted, and multiple blocks moved at the same time are counted as a single block. The higher scores indicate a better outcome.

    Measured: Baseline upon admission (assessed within 3 days upon admission), Post-intervention evaluation at discharge (At discharge: assessed up to 3 weeks post baseline), and 3-month post-stroke evaluation (Follow up occurred at Month 3 after Baseline)

  3. Shoulder Subluxation Distance

    The investigators measure the shoulder subluxation distance at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3-month post stroke follow up evaluation. Participants are asked to be seated in a upright chair and relax their affected upper extremity. The evaluator measures the distance, in centimeter, between the inferior aspect of the acromion and the superior aspect of the humeral head. The lower scores indicate a better outcome.

    Measured: Baseline upon admission (assessed within 3 days upon admission), Post-intervention evaluation at discharge (At discharge: assessed up to 3 weeks post baseline), and 3-month post-stroke evaluation (Follow up occurred at Month 3 after Baseline)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted30 May 2023
  2. Study start15 Sep 2023
  3. Primary completion31 Jan 2025
  4. Study completion28 Feb 2025

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
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
35 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05880940
Sponsor's protocol ID
2508
Other IDs
5R44HD106850-02
Acronym
Boost
Status last verified
Oct 2025
First submitted
26 Apr 2023
Last updated
27 Feb 2026
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Kim SJ, Chan V, Fullmer N, Rosario ER, Kim C, Liu CY, Comellas M, Zondervan DK, Reinkensmeyer DJ, Do AH. Promoting arm movement practice with a novel wheelchair armrest early after stroke: A randomized controlled trial. ArXiv [Preprint]. 2025 Oct 2:arXiv:2510.01753v1.

    PubMed 41256886

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Boost - Moveable Wheelchair Armrest and Electronic Arm and Hand Exercise Program in people with Stroke, run by University of California, Irvine at 3 sites in United States.

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 6 inclusion and 10 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in United States. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 27 Feb 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Fugl-Meyer Arm Motor Assessment Score (FMAMA) (time frame: Baseline upon admission (assessed within 3 days upon admission), Post-intervention evaluation at discharge (At discharge: assessed up to 3 weeks post baseline), and 3-month post-stroke evaluation (Follow up occurred at Month 3 after Baseline)). 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 NCT05880940, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 27 Feb 2026.

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