Effects of Upper Extremity Physiotherapy and Home Exercises on Functional Outcomes in Individuals With Stroke

October 29, 2026 updated by: Istanbul Gelisim University

The Effect of a Physiotherapy Program Developed for the Upper Extremity in Hemiplegic İndividuals on Daily Living aAtivities and Quality of Life.

This study aims to investigate the effects of an upper extremity physiotherapy program combined with home exercises on activities of daily living, quality of life, joint range of motion, and pain in individuals with hemiplegia following stroke.

The study compares two groups: participants receiving supervised physiotherapy in addition to a home exercise program and participants performing a home exercise program only. The intervention includes stretching, range-of-motion exercises, arm ergometer training, progressive strengthening, coordination exercises, and fine motor activities.

The intervention period lasts 10 weeks. Outcomes are assessed using the Barthel Index, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), goniometric measurements, and sensory assessments.

The study aims to evaluate whether adding supervised physiotherapy to home exercises provides additional benefits for upper extremity rehabilitation following stroke.

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.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

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.
Interventional

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.
42

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Gülşen Yıldız, Bachelor of Science - Lisans
  • Phone Number: +90 551 220 29 09
  • Email: gulsen.997178@gmail.com

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Avrasya Hospital Gaziosmanpaşa and zeytinburnu
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Gülşen Yıldız, BSc
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Avrasya Hospital- Gaziosmanpaşa and Zeytinburnu
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Gülşen Yıldız, Bsc

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

30 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of stroke.
  • Age greater than 30 and less than 65 years.
  • Time since stroke between 1 and 5 years.
  • Voluntary participation in the study and treatment.
  • Upper extremity Brunnstrom recovery stage 2 or 3.
  • Ability to understand and perform the prescribed exercise program.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unwillingness to continue participation in the study or treatment.
  • Irregular attendance at scheduled treatment sessions.
  • Upper extremity contracture severe enough to prevent exercise performance or range of motion assessment.
  • Spasticity severe enough to prevent safe and effective upper extremity exercise performance.
  • Failure to perform the prescribed home exercises regularly.
  • Development of an additional disease or medical condition affecting upper extremity function during the study.

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Physiotherapy and Home Exercise Group

Participants in this group receive supervised upper extremity physiotherapy twice a week for 45 minutes over 10 weeks, in addition to a home exercise program. The physiotherapy program includes stretching, passive and active-assisted range-of-motion exercises, arm ergometer training, progressive resistance exercises using Theraband and dumbbells, coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The home exercise program is performed five days per week, twice daily for 30 minutes per session.
Behavioral: Supervised Upper Extremity Physiotherapy Program

Participants in the intervention group receive a 10-week rehabilitation program consisting of supervised upper extremity physiotherapy twice weekly for 45 minutes per session and a structured home exercise program on three non-treatment days per week. The home exercise program is identical in content to that of the control group and includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination training, and fine motor activities. Home exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. Supervised physiotherapy includes stretching, passive, active-assisted and active range-of-motion exercises, wand exercises, arm ergometer training, progressive strengthening using Theraband and 0.5 kg dumbbells, coordination exercises, and fine motor activities.

Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

Participants in the control group perform a structured home exercise program five days per week for 10 weeks. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. The content of the home exercise program is the same as that prescribed to the intervention group. No supervised physiotherapy sessions are provided to the control group.
Active Comparator: Home Exercise Group

physiotherapy sessions. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. Exercises are performed five days per week, twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise.
Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

Participants in the control group perform a structured home exercise program five days per week for 10 weeks. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. The content of the home exercise program is the same as that prescribed to the intervention group. No supervised physiotherapy sessions are provided to the control group.

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
Change in Barthel Index Score
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

The Barthel Index is used to assess independence in activities of daily living. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional independence. Changes in Barthel Index scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the intervention and control groups.
Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)
Change in SF-36 Quality of Life Scores
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

The SF-36 is used to assess health-related quality of life across eight domains. Scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Changes in scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the two groups.
Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Upper Extremity Range of Motion (ROM)
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

Upper extremity range of motion is assessed using a goniometer. Measurements include shoulder flexion, extension and abduction; elbow flexion and extension; and wrist flexion and extension. Range of motion is recorded in degrees (°), with higher values indicating greater joint mobility. Changes from baseline to Week 10 are compared between the two groups.
Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)
Change in Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Changes in VAS scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the intervention and control groups.
Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)
Change in Upper Extremity Sensory Function
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

Upper extremity sensory function is assessed using superficial, deep, and cortical sensory tests, including temperature discrimination, sharp-dull discrimination, joint position sense (proprioception), and stereognosis. Changes in sensory function from baseline to Week 10 are evaluated in both groups.
Baseline (Week 1) and post-intervention (Week 10)

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.
Istanbul Gelisim University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Hande B Besna Göçen, PhD, Istanbul Gelisim University

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.
November 2, 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.
January 11, 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.
January 20, 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).
October 29, 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.
October 29, 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.
November 4, 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.
November 4, 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.
October 29, 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.
October 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.
  • STROKE-UE-2025-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

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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