Characterising Arm Recovery in People With Severe Stroke (CARPSS)

University of British Columbia

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Stroke

Treatments

Other: Longitudinal evaluation of recovery

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02464085

H15-00083

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main goal of this program of research is to advance our understanding of how the severely damaged brain changes over the first 12-months post stroke. The investigators will determine 'who recovers', 'who does not recover', and 'why'

Full description

The main goal of this program of research is to advance our understanding of how the severely damaged brain changes over the first 12-months post stroke. The prevalence and severity of stroke related arm disability is increasing and the prospect of optimal recovery is poor. Studies have demonstrated that stroke survivors with severe disability lack early indicators (<7-days to <1-month post-stroke) of a good prognosis, such as active movement at the shoulder and wrist and integrity of the corticospinal tract. This has propagated the clinical belief that this cohort are unlikely to functionally benefit from rehabilitation efforts. However, it is possible that indicators of potential for recovery - either neuroanatomical or clinical - may present in individuals with severe stroke later, that is beyond the early time-period. Indeed, there is increasing evidence of the potential for ongoing improvements in motor performance in response to intensive interventions that are undertaken 6-months or more post-stroke. This therefore, implies that there is some degree of untapped recovery potential. However, as very few studies have longitudinally explored the potential indicators of recovery in a severe cohort, the dynamic capacity of the severely damaged remains unknown. Thus, there is a need to determine 'who recovers', 'who does not recover', and 'why' to be able to promote optimal arm recovery in people with severe impairment after stroke. We will assess stroke survivors <4-weeks, 3-months, 6-months and 12-months post stroke using a range of neuroimaging and clinical outcome measures. The findings from this study will build the foundations for more personalized health care options for people with severe arm impairment post stroke.

Enrollment

50 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 90 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

adults aged 18 to 90 years;
sustained their first stroke;
demonstrate subacute (<1 month) and severe upper limb motor deficits (defined by a SAFE [shoulder abduction and finger extension] score of <5 out of 10 points); and
can follow single stage commands

Exclusion criteria