Recovery of Hand Function Through Mental Practice.

November 4, 2015 updated by: University of Aberdeen

Can Motor Imagery Enhance Recovery of Hand Function After Stroke? Evaluation of Motor Imagery Training.

The purpose of this study is to assess the therapeutic benefits of motor imagery training in stroke patients with persistent motor weakness.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Stroke is a common and highly debilitating illness. Many patients (41-45%) experience chronic motor impairments (Dijkerman et al., 1996) and limitations in activities of daily living (Wade & Langton Hewer, 1987) even after extensive neurological rehabilitation. They often result in long-term dependence at a considerable cost to the carers and the health service. It is therefore crucial to optimise motor recovery after stroke. This study investigates the therapeutic benefits of motor imagery training in stroke patients with a motor weakness.

Evidence for the idea that motor imagery training could enhance the recovery of hand function comes from several separate bases of evidence: the sports literature; neurophysiological evidence; evidence from health psychology research; as well as preliminary findings using motor imagery techniques in stroke patients.

There is evidence to suggest that mental rehearsal of movement can produce effects normally attributed to practising the actual movements. Imagining hand movements could stimulate the redistribution of brain activity, which accompanies recovery of hand function, thus resulting in a reduced motor deficit. Patients are assessed before and after a four-week evaluation period. In this randomised controlled trial 45 patients daily mentally rehearse movements with their affected hand under close supervision. Their recovery is compared to 45 patients who perform closely supervised non-motor mental rehearsal, and 45 patients who are not engaged in a training program.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

135

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • Aberdeen, United Kingdom, AB24 3FX
        • University of Aberdeen
      • Dundee, United Kingdom
        • Ninewells Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Confirmed diagnosis of stroke in the last 1-6 months Persisting upper limb weakness -

Exclusion Criteria:

Alcohol/ Drug abuse Psychiatric history Previous illness that has impacted on individuals Activity of Daily living

- Dementia (assessed by MSQ) Severe Aphasia

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) (Lyle, 1981)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Barthel Index
Grip strength (dynamometer; Heller et al., 1987),
Nine hole pegboard task (Mathiowetz et al., 1985, Wade [ref]),
Function Limitation Profile
Recovery Locus of Control

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Aberdeen

Collaborators

Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marie Johnston, Prof, University of Aberdeen

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

November 1, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 24, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 24, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

July 25, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 5, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 4, 2015

Last Verified

November 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CZH/4/153

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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