Positioning the Trunk and Upper Limb to Improve the Coordination of the Hand Movement After Stroke

Positioning the Trunk and Upper Limb to Improve the Coordination of the Wrist and Fingers After Stroke

This study investigated how torso and shoulder positioning can help restore coordinated hand movements in stroke patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: hand motor coordination in a sitting positin; Procedure: hand motor coordination in a supine position with the upper extremity positioned perpendicularly to the trunk; Procedure: hand motor coordination in a supine position with adduction in the humeral joint, elbow flexion in the intermediate position

Detailed Description

Stroke patients and healthy subjects were randomly divided into two different groups and tested in different positions. In study group 1, the exercise test consisted of two motor tasks carried out in two different starting positions: sitting and supine. During the first examination, the subject sat on the therapeutic table (without back support), feet resting on the floor (active stabilization of the trunk and shoulder). The upper limb was examined in adduction, with the elbow bent in the intermediate position between pronation and supination of the forearm. In the supine position, the upper limb was held beside the subject's body (adduction in the humeral joint, elbow flexion in the intermediate position; passive stabilization of the trunk and shoulder).

In study group 2, the exercise test again consisted of two motor tasks carried out in two different starting positions: supine with the upper extremity positioned perpendicularly to the trunk (passive stabilization of the trunk, active stabilization of the shoulder), and supine with the upper limb held beside the subject's body (adduction in the humeral joint, elbow flexion in the intermediate position; passive stabilization of the trunk and shoulder).

A manual electronic dynamometer (EH 101) was used for grip strength measurement (error of measurement, 0.5 kg/lb). A Hand Tutor device (composed of a safe and comfortable glove equipped with position and motion sensors, and the Medi Tutor(TM) software) was used to measure the range of passive and active movement (error of measurement, 5 - 10 mm), as well as the speed/frequency of movement (error of measurement, 0,5 cycle/sec.).

First, the range of passive movement in the radial-carpal joint (flexion and extension) and fingers (global flexion and extension) was measured in each position using the Hand Tutor Device. Then the subject made active movements in the same order. Finally, the subject was asked to make moves as quickly and in as full a range as possible. The measurement of grip strength with a dynamometer was performed in each position after the range of motion and speed/frequency tests.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 277
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Masovian District
    • Warsaw, Masovian District, Poland, 04-141
      • Military Institute of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 87 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Study Group Inclusion Criteria:1) patients with hemiparesis after 5 to 7 weeks after stroke; 2) no severe deficits in communication, memory, or understanding what can impede proper measurement performance; 3) at least 20 years of age.

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Exclusion Criteria: 1) stroke up to 5 weeks after the episode; 2) epilepsy; 3) lack of trunk stability; 4) no wrist and hand movement; 5) high very low blood pressure; 6) dizziness; 7) malaise

Control Group

Inclusion Criteria: 1) the control group consisted of subjects free from the upper extremity motor coordination disorders; 2) at least 20 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria: 1) history of neurologic or musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, stroke, head injury, or other conditions that could affect their ability to active movement and handgrip; 2) severe deficits in communication, memory, or understanding what can impede proper measurement performance; 3) high very low blood pressure; 4) dizziness; 5) malaise

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: NA
• Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL: Positioning the trunk and upper limb to improve the coordination the hand.; The study investigated the effects of the trunk and upper limb positioning on improving wrist and hand coordination.

Procedure: hand motor coordination in a sitting positin; The subject sat on the therapeutic table (without back support), feet resting on the floor. The upper limb was examined in adduction, with the elbow bent in the intermediate position between pronation and supination of the forearm. Wrist and a hand free from stabilization.; Procedure: hand motor coordination in a supine position with the upper extremity positioned perpendicularly to the trunk; motor tasks carried out in starting positions: supine with the upper extremity positioned perpendicularly to the trunk; the upper limb in adduction and flexion in the humeral joint, elbow extension, forearm in the intermediate position; elbow, wrist, hand free from stabilization.; Procedure: hand motor coordination in a supine position with adduction in the humeral joint, elbow flexion in the intermediate position; In the supine position, the upper limb was held beside the subject's body (adduction in the humeral joint, elbow flexion in the intermediate position between pronation and supination of the forearm. Wrist and a hand free from stabilization.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of passive movement of the wrist	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the range of passive movement of the wrist (in mm).	up to 10 weeks
Range of active movement of the wrist	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the range of active movement of the wrist (in mm)	up to 10 week
Wrist extension deficit (mm). The extension deficit refers to the difference between passive and active ROM.	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the extension deficit (in mm)	up to 10 weeks
Wrist flexion deficit mm	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the flexion deficit (in mm). The flexion deficit refers to the difference between passive and active ROM.	up to 10 weeks
Wrist maximum range of motion (ROM), mm	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the maximum range of motion (ROM) (in mm), from flexion to extension.	up to 10 weeks
Frequency of wrist movement (flexion to extension), cycles#/sec	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the speed or frequency (i.e., the number of cycles per sec).	up to 10 weeks
Range of passive movement of the fingers	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the passive movement of the fingers (in mm)	up to 10 weeks
Range of active movement of the fingers	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the active movement of the fingers (in mm)	up to 10 weeks
Fingers extension deficit mm	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the extension deficit (in mm). The extension deficit refers to the difference between passive and active ROM.	up to 10 weeks
Fingers flexion deficit mm	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the flexion deficit (in mm). The flexion deficit refers to the difference between passive and active ROM.	up to 10 weeks
Fingers maximum range of motion (ROM), mm	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the maximum range of motion (ROM) (in mm), from flexion to extension of each finger.	up to 10 weeks
Frequency of fingers movement (flexion to extension), cycles#/sec	The Hand Tutor allows measurements of the speed or frequency (i.e., the number of cycles per sec)	up to 10 weeks
Assessment of the grip strength	Grip strength, kg (a manusl electronic dynamometr (EH 101) was used for grip strength	up to 10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Military Institute of Medicine, Poland

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 5, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): March 15, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): March 15, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 1, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): March 4, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stroke; grip strength; stabilization; positioning; motor coordination; rehabiliatation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: 5/KRN/2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No