Effects of robotic priming of bilateral arm training, mirror therapy, and impairment-oriented training on sensorimotor and daily functions in patients with chronic stroke: study protocol of a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

Yi chen Lee, Yi chun Li, Keh chung Lin*, Grace Yao, Ya ju Chang, Ya yun Lee, Chien ting Liu, Wan ling Hsu, Yi hsuan Wu, Ho ta Chu, Ting xuan Liu, Yi ping Yeh, Chieh Chang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Combining robotic therapy (RT) with task-oriented therapy is an emerging strategy to facilitate motor relearning in stroke rehabilitation. This study protocol will compare novel rehabilitation regimens that use bilateral RT as a priming technique to augment two task-oriented therapies: mirror therapy (MT) and bilateral arm training (BAT) with a control intervention: RT combined with impairment-oriented training (IOT). Methods: This single-blind, randomized, comparative efficacy study will involve 96 participants with chronic stroke. Participants will be randomized into bilateral RT+MT, bilateral RT+BAT, and bilateral RT+IOT groups and receive 18 intervention sessions (90 min/day, 3 d/week for 6 weeks). The outcomes will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Stroke Impact Scale version 3.0, Medical Research Council scale, Revised Nottingham Sensory Assessment, ABILHAND Questionnaire, and accelerometer and will be assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at the 3-month follow-up. Analysis of covariance and the chi-square automatic interaction detector method will be used to examine the comparative efficacy and predictors of outcome, respectively, after bilateral RT+MT, bilateral RT+BAT, and bilateral RT+IOT. Discussion: The findings are expected to contribute to the research and development of robotic devices, to update the evidence-based protocols in postacute stroke care programs, and to investigate the use of accelerometers for monitoring activity level in real-life situations, which may in turn promote home-based practice by the patients and their caregivers. Directions for further studies and empirical implications for clinical practice will be further discussed in upper-extremity rehabilitation after stroke. Trial registration: This trial was registered December 12, 2018, at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03773653).

Original languageEnglish
Article number566
JournalTrials
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Bilateral arm training
  • Bilateral motor priming
  • Impairment-oriented training
  • Mirror therapy
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Stroke
  • Upper extremity rehabilitation

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