An Innovative Proprioceptive Instrument for Upper Extremities

August 18, 2026 updated by: National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Development, Validation, and Clinical Application of an Innovative Proprioceptive Instrument for Upper Extremities: PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm)

This study aimed to develop and validate an innovative proprioceptive assessment instrument for the upper extremities, the PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm). This observational study was conducted in three stages. The first stage focused on the development and validation of PropArm, including test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and convergent validity. The second stage established age norms and cut-off points in healthy adults. In the final stage, PropArm was applied to patients with proprioceptive impairments (stroke, shoulder impingement syndrome, and diabetes mellitus patients) to examine its diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
280

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes healthy young adults (20-29 yr), healthy adults (30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 yr), healthy older adults (60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 yr) across different age groups, and patients with stroke, shoulder impingement syndrome, or diabetes mellitus. Participants are right-hand dominant and able to follow verbal instructions without cognitive impairments.

Description

  1. Healthy Young Adults:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Age between 20 and 29 years,
    • (2) Right-hand dominance, and
    • (3) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Currently a student or faculty member of the Department of Occupational Therapy at National Cheng Kung University, or a staff member of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital,
    • (2) History of surgery on the right upper limb,
    • (3) Presence of neuromusculoskeletal disorders that may affect sensory or motor function of the right upper limb, such as stroke or shoulder impingement syndrome, and
    • (4) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.

  2. Healthy Adults:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Age between 30 to 39, 40 to 49, or 50 to 59 years,
    • (2) Right-hand dominance, and
    • (3) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Currently a student or faculty member of the Department of Occupational Therapy at National Cheng Kung University, or a staff member of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital,
    • (2) History of surgery on the right upper limb,
    • (3) Presence of neuromusculoskeletal disorders that may affect sensory or motor function of the right upper limb, such as stroke or shoulder impingement syndrome, and
    • (4) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.

  3. Healthy Older Adults:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Age between 60 to 69, 70 to 79, or 80 to 89 years,
    • (2) Right-hand dominance, and
    • (3) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Score below the 5th percentile on the Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C),
    • (2) Currently a student or faculty member of the Department of Occupational Therapy at National Cheng Kung University, or a staff member of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital,
    • (3) History of surgery on the right upper limb,
    • (4) Presence of neuromusculoskeletal disorders that may affect sensory or motor function of the right upper limb, such as stroke or shoulder impingement syndrome, and
    • (5) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.

  4. Stroke:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Age between 20 and 89 years,
    • (2) Right-hemispheric hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke with lesions involving proprioceptive pathways or the primary somatosensory cortex, potentially resulting in difficulties with body position, movement, or force perception, or with fine tactile perception (e.g., localization, two-point discrimination, object recognition),
    • (3) Right-hand dominance, and
    • (4) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Score below the 5th percentile on the Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C),
    • (2) Upper limb still in acute pain stage,
    • (3) Muscle tone severe enough to affect right upper limb movement (e.g., score ≥ 1+ on the Modified Ashworth Scale),
    • (4) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.

  5. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome:

    Inclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Age between 20 and 89 years,
    • (2) Diagnosis of shoulder impingement syndrome in the right upper limb,
    • (3) Right-hand dominance, and
    • (4) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

    Exclusion Criteria:

    • (1) Score below the 5th percentile on the Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C),
    • (2) Upper limb still in acute pain stage,
    • (3) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.
  6. Diabetes (DM):

Inclusion Criteria:

  • (1) Age between 20 and 89 years,

  • (2) Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by a specialist physician, based on one of the following:

    1. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 126 mg/dL or 7.0 mmol/L;
    2. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5%;
    3. Plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L at 2 hours during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT);
    4. Presence of hyperglycemia symptoms (polyphagia, polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss) with a random plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL.

Diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed if any two of items (a-c) are met, or if any one of them remains positive on repeat testing; fulfillment of item (d) alone is also sufficient for diagnosis.

  • (3) Right-hand dominance, and
  • (4) Ability to understand three consecutive verbal instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • (1) Score below the 5th percentile on the Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C),
  • (2) History of surgery on the right upper limb,
  • (3) Presence of other neuromusculoskeletal disorders that may affect sensory or motor function of the right upper limb, and
  • (4) Current skin infection, and
  • (5) Uncorrected hearing problems, such as hearing loss.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Healthy Young Adults
20-29 years-old
Healthy Adults
30-59 years-old
Healthy Older Adults
60-89 years-old
Stroke
20-89 year-old
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
20-89 year-old
Diabetes (DM)
20-89 years-old

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm) - Healthy Young Adult Group - Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
The instrument is designed to measure proprioception by recording position and force data. In the first stage, PropArm was conducted twice to examine the test-retest reliability of healthy young adults. In other stages, PropArm were collected once.
Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm) - Healthy Adult Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The instrument is designed to measure proprioception by recording position and force data. In the first stage, PropArm was conducted twice to examine the test-retest reliability of healthy young adults. In other stages, PropArm were collected once.
Baseline
PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm) - Stroke Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The instrument is designed to measure proprioception by recording position and force data. In the first stage, PropArm was conducted twice to examine the test-retest reliability of healthy young adults. In other stages, PropArm were collected once.
Baseline
PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm) - Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The instrument is designed to measure proprioception by recording position and force data. In the first stage, PropArm was conducted twice to examine the test-retest reliability of healthy young adults. In other stages, PropArm were collected once.
Baseline
PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm) - Diabetes Mellitus Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The instrument is designed to measure proprioception by recording position and force data. In the first stage, PropArm was conducted twice to examine the test-retest reliability of healthy young adults. In other stages, PropArm were collected once.
Baseline
MicroFET3 Hand-held Dynamometer (MicroFET3) - Healthy Young Adult Group - Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
The MicroFET3 is used to quantify the muscle power of elbow.
Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
MicroFET3 Hand-held Dynamometer (MicroFET3) - Healthy Adult Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MicroFET3 is used to quantify the muscle power of elbow.
Baseline
MicroFET3 Hand-held Dynamometer (MicroFET3) - Stroke Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MicroFET3 is used to quantify the muscle power of elbow.
Baseline
MicroFET3 Hand-held Dynamometer (MicroFET3) - Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MicroFET3 is used to quantify the muscle power of elbow
Baseline
MicroFET3 Hand-held Dynamometer (MicroFET3) - Diabetes Mellitus Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MicroFET3 is used to quantify the muscle power of elbow.
Baseline
VICON Motion Capture System (VICON) - Healthy Young Adult Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
VICON is used to capture the position data of limbs in space.
Baseline
Manual Tactile Test-Barognosis (MTT-B) - Healthy Young Adult Group - Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
The MTT-B is used to assess the ability to discriminate objects without vision (barognosis sense) of hand.
Baseline, within 2 weeks after Baseline
Manual Tactile Test-Barognosis (MTT-B) - Healthy Adult Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MTT-B is used to assess the ability to discriminate objects without vision (barognosis sense) of hand.
Baseline
Manual Tactile Test-Barognosis (MTT-B) - Stroke Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MTT-B is used to assess the ability to discriminate objects without vision (barognosis sense) of hand.
Baseline
Manual Tactile Test-Barognosis (MTT-B) - Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MTT-B is used to assess the ability to discriminate objects without vision (barognosis sense) of hand.
Baseline
Manual Tactile Test-Barognosis (MTT-B) - Diabetes Mellitus Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The MTT-B is used to assess the ability to discriminate objects without vision (barognosis sense) of hand.
Baseline

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C) - Healthy Adult Group those who over 60 years-old - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The CTT-C is a screening test used to exclude potential mild cognitive impairment patients.
Baseline
Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C) - Stroke Group those who over 60 years-old - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The CTT-C is a screening test used to exclude potential mild cognitive impairment patients.
Baseline
Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C) - Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Group those who over 60 years-old - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The CTT-C is a screening test used to exclude potential mild cognitive impairment patients.
Baseline
Color Trails Test-Chinese Version (CTT-C) -Diabetes Mellitus Group those who over 60 years-old - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The CTT-C is a screening test used to exclude potential mild cognitive impairment patients.
Baseline
Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) - Stroke Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The FMA-UE is used to measure the motor function of affected hand in stroke patients.
Baseline
Goniometer Shoulder Range of Motion - Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Group - Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
The goniometer is used to measure the range of motion (ROM) of both sides of shoulders.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • A-ER-113-451

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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