Stroke Wearable Operative Rehabilitation Device Impact Trial (SWORD-IT)
Ischemic Stroke, Upper Extremity Hemiparesis
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Ischemic Stroke focused on measuring stroke, motor deficits, motor rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, medical devices, wearable devices, e-health systems
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- More than 18 years old at stroke onset, with no superior age limit;
- Medical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke;
- First ever stroke;
- Previously independent, defined as having a modified Rankin scale (mRS) of 0-1;
- Clinical and CT or MRI compatible with a medial cerebral artery ischemic lesion;
- Confirmed motor deficit on the upper limb but not plegia (able to actively extend wrist, thumb, and at least 2 other digits >10°), defined as a score between 0 and 2 on items 5a or 5b of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale;
- Inpatients, within no more than 4 weeks after stroke onset;
- Medically stable, no intravenous medication and already able to sit for more than one hour comfortably;
- Favourable opinion of the attending stroke physician;
- Patient and caregiver understand the purpose of the study and provided written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- No detectable motor deficits at baseline assessment by the neurologist;
- Severe aphasia;
- Dementia (any stage);
- Other cognitive or psychiatric comorbidity that impairs communication or compliance with the tasks;
- Severe respiratory or cardiac condition incompatible with more than one minute of continuous mild exercise (e.g. combing hair) in a sitting position;
- Pain that limits upper limb movement either on the normal or affected side;
- Upper limb amputation or severe deformity either on the normal or affected side;
- Fixed articular limitations of upper limb either on the normal or affected side;
- Enrollment in other trial in the previous 3 months.
Sites / Locations
- Rehabilitation Department, Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave, EPE
- Neurology Department, CHEDV
- Rehabilitation Department, CHEDV
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Hand-to-mouth task - vibratory feedback
Hand-to-mouth task - no vibratory feedback
Hand-to-mouth task under vibratory feedback and 3D movement analysis. The SWORD device is in place over the patient arm, performs continuous 3D movement analysis and provides vibratory feedback according to quality performance settings established by the clinician after patient assessment. If movement is of lower amplitude or slower than prescribed a vibratory stimulus is delivered at the wrist of the patient. The intervention is repeated on the hemiparetic and normal sides and the duration of the task is defined according to the patient cardiovascular status.
Hand-to-mouth task in the same conditions as the experimental arm but without vibratory feedback, only 3D movement analysis. The SWORD device is in place over the patient arm, performs continuous 3D movement analysis but does not provides vibratory feedback according to quality performance settings established by the clinician after patient assessment. If movement is of lower amplitude or slower than prescribed NO vibratory stimulus is delivered at the wrist of the patient. The intervention is repeated on the hemiparetic and normal sides and the duration of the task is defined according to the patient cardiovascular status.