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NCT Number: NCT04939493

Use of Rhythmic Auditory Cueing During Bilateral Training of the Upper Extremities in Stroke Patients

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of rhythmic auditory cueing with bilateral arm training on upper limb functions in stroke patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Hemiplegia, Spastic Hemiplegia Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Paralysis Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

45 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Outpatient clinic - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Cairo University

Dokki, Egypt

About this study

Arm and hand movement problems are major contributors to disability in patients after stroke. In fact, only 5% of adults regain full arm function after stroke, and 20% regain no functional use. Hence, alternative strategies are needed to reduce the long-term disability and functional impairment from upper limb hemiparesis.

To solve problems concerning upper limb dysfunction related to stroke, various treatment methods have been used in several previous studies. Rhythmic auditory stimulation has been reported as an effective intervention for improving movement in the affected extremities of stroke patients.

To the best of our knowledge, no mentioned previous studies evaluating the effect of rhythmic auditory cueing with bilateral arm training using functional exercises on upper extremity impairment in patients with stroke in Egypt are reported. So, this study aims to determine the effect of rhythmic auditory cueing with bilateral arm training on upper limb functions in patients with stroke.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Thirty patients with ischemic stroke from both sexes will be included.
  • Patients will have stroke for the first time.
  • The age of patients will range from 45 to 60 years.
  • Duration of illness will be from six months to eighteen months.
  • The degree of spasticity will ranged from 1 to 1 + grade according to the modified Ashworth scale.
  • Patients will have moderate arm motor impairment (between 30 and 49 scores) according to Fugl-Meyer (FM) arm section scale.
  • The affected upper extremity will be the dominant side.
  • Patients will be able to sit and maintain balance in a sitting position.

Exclusion criteria

  • The patients will be excluded if they have:
  • Visual or auditory deficits.
  • Perceptual disorders.
  • Any surgical interventions in the upper extremities limiting the range of motion.
  • Aphasia or apraxia.
  • Musculoskeletal or neurological impairment of the unaffected upper extremity.

Treatment and study plan

Rhythmic Auditory Cueing

Other

Patients will perform the same movement sequence in time with the metronome beat. The frequency of the rhythmic auditory stimulation will be matched to the participant"s preferred movement speed, which will be assessed prior to the start of the trial, and participants typically started moving after they had heard the metronome beat two to three times. Participants will be given sufficient practice trials to ensure full understanding before the actual recording of data, and will be given 3-minutes break between trials.

On the 3rd and 5th week, the rhythm frequency was increased by 5%.

Bilateral arm training

Other

Training will consist of 20 minutes of bilateral arm training In each session, patients will be seated comfortably at a table in the following limb positions: ankles in neutral dorsiflexion, knees and hips placed at 90°, shoulders in 0° flexion, elbows in 60° flexion, and wrists in neutral position of flexion/extension

Conventional physical therapy program

Other

Scapular mobilization. Thoracic spine mobilization. Mechanical assisted (active and passive) exercises. Therapeutic positioning as weight bearing on the paretic arm. Opening and closing closed fist. Strengthening exercise. Stretching of spastic muscles.

Primary outcomes

  1. Assessing the change in Upper Extremity Motor Performance

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

    Assessment via using Upper Extremity Motor Performance scale. This scale has been shown to be valid and reliable, and it correlates well with inter joint upper extremity coordination. It has a maximum score of 66

  2. Assessing the change in upper limb Motor Function

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

    Assessment via using Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) The final time score will be the median time required for all timed tasks executed. One hundred twenty seconds is the maximum time allowed for each task attempted Timing is carried out using a stopwatch.

  3. Assessing the change in gross manual dexterity

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

    Assessment via using Box and Block Test Involves moving 1-inch cube blocks from a rectangular box container to another container, and the number of blocks moved by each hand in 60 seconds is determined using stop watch

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jun 25, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 25, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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