Comparing Two Therapies to Improve Arm Function After Stroke
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), Coupling Rehabilitation.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stroke. Basic parameters: 40 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Coupling Rehabilitation Versus Constraint Induced Movement Therapy in Post Stroke Patients With Upper Limb Impairment
Overview
This clinical trial aims to compare the effects of coupling rehabilitation and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) on improving arm function, hand skills, and daily activity performance in people who have upper limb weakness after a stroke. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups and receive 12 weeks of therapy, including either CIMT or coupling rehabilitation along with conventional physical therapy. The study will evaluate which method is more effective in restoring movement and independence by using standardized assessments before, during, and after the intervention. The findings may help guide future rehabilitation approaches for stroke survivors
Detailed description
This study focuses on improving upper limb recovery in people who have experienced a stroke. Stroke often leads to long-term weakness or difficulty using one arm, which can limit a person's ability to perform everyday tasks such as dressing, eating, or writing. The study explores two promising rehabilitation strategies-Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Coupling Rehabilitation-that may help improve arm movement, hand coordination, and independence in daily life.
Participants will take part in therapy sessions over a 12-week period, during which they will engage in structured, goal-oriented exercises tailored to their physical abilities. The research team will monitor changes in motor function and hand dexterity through standard assessments administered at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the study. By comparing outcomes between the two groups, the study seeks to identify which therapy method is more effective in promoting functional recovery after stroke, with the goal of enhancing rehabilitation practices in clinical settings.
Interventions
- Other Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
Participants in this group will receive modified CIMT in combination with conventional physical therapy. The unaffected arm will be restrained to encourage use of the affected upper limb. Task-specific exercises will include fine motor tasks, strengthening, reaching, and functional movement training. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will be conducted three times per week for 12 weeks. - Other Coupling Rehabilitation
Participants in this group will receive Coupling Rehabilitation in addition to conventional physical therapy. This method involves bilateral arm training and functional tasks designed to improve coordination between both upper limbs, using the unaffected limb to guide movement in the affected one. Exercises will include trunk-supported reaching, object retrieval, and posture-supported task practice. Sessions will occur three times per week for 12 weeks, each lasting approximately 45-60 minutes.
Primary outcome measures
- Improvement in Upper Limb Motor Function Using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) [Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention]
- Change in Hand Dexterity Using the Box and Block Test (BBT) [Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention]
- Change in Performance of Daily Activities Using the Motor Activity Log (MAL) [Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after start of intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: •Age 40-65 years old
- Patients suffering from Sub acute stroke
- Motor function score at Fugl-Meyer Assessment between 40-60
- Fine motor assessment at Box and Block Test<20
- ADL's assessment at Motor Activity Log:
Amount of use scale<2.5 Quality of movement scale<3
\-
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals suffering from unstable angina, symptomatic heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension
- Physician determined unstable cardiovascular conditions
- The patient has been diagnosed as having organ failure, including the heart, kidneys, and lungs
- Patients with any traumatic musculoskeletal injury to upper limbs
- Individuals who are experiencing cognitive impairment as a result of neurological conditions other than stroke.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- University of Lahore Teaching Hospital — Lahore
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07093983 · LARAIB AKBAR