Short-Duration and Intensive Training Improves Long-Term Reaching Performance in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Hyeshin Park, Sujin Kim, Carolee J Winstein, James Gordon, Nicolas Schweighofer, Hyeshin Park, Sujin Kim, Carolee J Winstein, James Gordon, Nicolas Schweighofer
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that multiple sessions of reach training lead to long-term improvements in movement time and smoothness in individuals post-stroke. Yet such long-term training regimens are often difficult to implement in actual clinical settings. In this study, we evaluated the long-term and generalization effects of short-duration and intensive reach training in 16 individuals with chronic stroke and mild to moderate impairments. Participants performed 2 sessions of unassisted intensive reach training, with 600 movements per session, and with display of performance-based feedback after each movement. The participants' trunks were restrained with a belt to avoid compensatory movements. Training resulted in significant and durable (1 month) improvements in movement time (20.4% on average) and movement smoothness (22.7% on average). The largest improvements occurred in individuals with the largest initial motor impairments. In addition, training induced generalization to nontrained targets, which persisted in 1-day and in 1-month retention tests. Finally, there was a significant improvement in the Box and Block test from baseline to 1-month retention test (23% on average). Thus, short-duration and intensive reach training can lead to generalized and durable benefits in individuals with chronic stroke and mild to moderate impairments.
Keywords: arm movements; generalization; long-term retention; reach training; stroke rehabilitation.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
© The Author(s) 2015.
Figures
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A: Mean number of peak…
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A: Mean number of peak in the stroke group across test sessions (results…
Figure 5
Relationship between initial performance and…
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Relationship between initial performance and change in performance between Pre1-test and 1-day retention…
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- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Aged
- Chronic Disease
- Exercise Therapy / methods*
- Feedback, Sensory / physiology
- Female
- Humans
- Logistic Models
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
- Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
- Recovery of Function / physiology*
- Reproducibility of Results
- Severity of Illness Index
- Stroke / physiopathology*
- Stroke Rehabilitation / methods*
- Upper Extremity
- Full Text Sources
- Other Literature Sources
- Medical
![Figure 4](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4808509/bin/nihms719712f4.jpg)
Figure 5
Relationship between initial performance and…
Figure 5
Relationship between initial performance and change in performance between Pre1-test and 1-day retention…
![Figure 5](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4808509/bin/nihms719712f5.jpg)
Source: PubMed