Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training With Focal Vibration in Stroke

Effects of Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training With Localized Vibration on Hand Function, Proprioception, and Muscle Tone in Patients With Stroke

This study aims to investigate the effects of task-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration on hand function, proprioception, and muscle tone in patients with stroke. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving task-oriented training with concurrent focal vibration or a control group receiving task-oriented training alone. The intervention will be conducted over 6 weeks. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: ask-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration; Procedure: Active Comparator: Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training Alone

Detailed Description

Stroke often results in impairments in upper limb function, including reduced motor control, altered muscle tone, and deficits in proprioception. These impairments can significantly limit functional use of the affected limb in daily activities.

Task-oriented training has been widely used in stroke rehabilitation to improve motor function through repetitive and goal-directed tasks. However, recovery may be limited when sensory input is insufficient. Enhancing sensory feedback, particularly proprioceptive input, may facilitate sensorimotor integration and improve functional outcomes.

Focal vibration applied to muscle or tendon has been shown to stimulate muscle spindle afferents, thereby enhancing proprioceptive input to the central nervous system. When applied during active task performance, focal vibration may further augment motor learning and functional recovery.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of task-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving task-oriented training with concurrent focal vibration applied to wrist extensor muscles or a control group receiving task-oriented training alone.

The intervention will be conducted for 6 weeks. Outcome measures will include upper limb motor function, proprioception, manual dexterity, and muscle tone, assessed before and after the intervention.

The findings of this study may provide evidence for the effectiveness of combining focal vibration with task-oriented training to enhance upper limb recovery in patients with stroke.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 38
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jisu Kim, PT; Phone Number: +82-10-8362-6639; Email: ksuu6639@naver.com

Study Locations

• South Korea
  • Seoul, South Korea
    • Recruiting
    • Cheongdam Hospital
    • Contact: Jisu Kim, PT; Phone Number: +82-10-8362-6639; Email: ksuu6639@naver.com
  • Seoul, South Korea
    • Not yet recruiting
    • Sahmyook University
    • Contact: Jisu Kim, PT; Phone Number: +82-10-8362-6639; Email: ksuu6639@naver.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals diagnosed with stroke at least 3 months prior
• Individuals with sufficient cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score ≥ 24)
• Individuals able to maintain a seated position independently and perform upper limb functional tasks (Trunk Control Test [TCT] ≥ 50)
• Individuals with muscle tone of the affected upper limb of Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Grade ≤ 2
• Individuals with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) scores between 20 and 50
• Individuals able to grasp and move objects with the affected upper limb and with muscle strength of Manual Muscle Test (MMT) Grade ≥ 3
• Individuals with impaired proprioception in the affected hand (defined as a score < 2 on the wrist or thumb position item of the FMA-UE)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals within 3 months after stroke onset
• Individuals with fractures, severe soft tissue injuries, or contraindications to focal vibration
• Individuals with severe sensory hypersensitivity or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Individuals who received treatments affecting upper limb function within the past 3 months (e.g., botulinum toxin injection, surgery, nerve block)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training with Focal Vibration; Participants will receive task-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration applied to the wrist extensor muscles during task performance. The intervention will be conducted for 6 weeks, twice per week, with each session lasting 30 minutes. Each session will include functional tasks such as reaching, grasping, object manipulation, and wrist control exercises. Focal vibration will be applied only during active task execution to enhance proprioceptive input, improve hand function, and reduce muscle tone.	Procedure: ask-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration; Participants in the experimental group will receive task-oriented upper limb training combined with focal vibration applied to the wrist extensor muscles during task performance. The intervention will be administered for 30 minutes per session, 2 times per week, for 6 weeks, and no vibration will be applied during rest periods.
Active Comparator: Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training Alone; Participants will receive the same task-oriented upper limb training without focal vibration for 6 weeks, twice per week, with each session lasting 30 minutes. Each session will include functional tasks such as reaching, grasping, object manipulation, and wrist control exercises. The vibration device will be attached to the wrist extensor muscles in the same manner as the experimental group, but no vibration will be applied.	Procedure: Active Comparator: Task-Oriented Upper Limb Training Alone; Participants in the control group will receive task-oriented upper limb training without the application of focal vibration, with the device attached to the wrist extensor muscles. The intervention will be administered for 30 minutes per session, 2 times per week, for 6 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)	The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) will be used to evaluate motor function of the affected upper limb. The total score ranges from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor function.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Joint Position Sense (JPS)	Joint position sense (JPS) will be assessed using an electronic goniometer by measuring the absolute error between a target joint angle and the reproduced angle. Lower error values indicate better proprioceptive function.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Thumb Localization Test (TLT)	The Thumb Localization Test (TLT) will be used to assess proprioceptive function of the affected upper limb. Participants will be asked to locate and grasp the thumb of the affected hand with the unaffected hand while their eyes are closed. Performance will be scored on a 4-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater impairment.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)	The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) will be used to assess upper limb functional ability. The test consists of 19 items divided into four subscales: grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale (0-3), with a total score ranging from 0 to 57. Higher scores indicate better upper limb function.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Box and Block Test (BBT)	The Box and Block Test (BBT) will be used to assess gross manual dexterity of the affected upper limb. Participants will be instructed to move as many blocks as possible from one compartment of a box to another within 60 seconds. The score is the number of blocks transferred, with higher scores indicating better manual dexterity	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention
Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)	The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) will be used to assess muscle tone of the affected upper limb. Spasticity is graded on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 to 4, including a 1+ grade, with higher scores indicating greater spasticity.	Baseline and immediately after 6 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Jisu Kim

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 27, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Stroke; Proprioception; Hand Function; Muscle Tone; Task-Oriented Training; Upper Limb Rehabilitation; Focal Vibration
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: SU-PT-2026-01-018-002

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