Patient Targeted Upper Extremity Rehabilitation After Stroke (TARG)
Stroke
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke focused on measuring rehabilitation, occupational therapy, upper extremity
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Individuals are eligible for this study if they have:
- experienced a stroke at least 3 months prior that has resulted in unilateral hemiparesis.
- exhibit voluntarily paretic arm shoulder flexion 30 degrees with simultaneous elbow extension 20 degrees.
- impairment with overhead reach and wrist circumduction and fine motor dexterity.
- passive range of motion in affected shoulder, elbow and wrist within 20 degrees of normal values.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals are not eligible for this study if they have:
- a lesion in the brainstem or cerebellum.
- another neurological disease that may impair motor skills (e.g., Parkinson's Disease).
- pain in the affected upper extremity that would limit participation in the study intervention.
- difficulty understanding and following 3-step directions.
- difficulty sitting independently without postural support.
- an orthopedic condition or impaired corrected vision that alters the kinematics of reaching.
- are unable to travel to and remain in Charleston SC for the duration of the 4-week study.
Sites / Locations
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Targeted Task Practice
Non-Targeted Task Practice
Targeted task practice is defined as a therapy program aimed at patient-specific upper extremity motor impairment levels and systematically progressed to assure an ongoing "just right" match between task-difficulty and patient-ability. Participants attended occupational therapy 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each therapy session was 2 hours in length.
Non-targeted task practice is a standard of care treatment consisting of task practice with no guidance from the measurement framework to systematically address specific upper extremity motor impairment levels or progress rehabilitation therapy. Participants attended occupational therapy 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each therapy session was 2 hours in length.