Comparison of Motor Relearning Program and Electric Muscle Stimulation in Subacute Stroke Patients

NCT07720622 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: UOL/IREB/25/15/03/23
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, with upper limb motor impairment being a common consequence that limits independence in activities of daily living. The Motor Relearning Program (MRP) is a task-oriented rehabilitation approach designed to improve motor recovery through repetitive functional practice. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) may further enhance muscle activation and facilitate motor recovery when combined with conventional rehabilitation. The purpose of this single-blinded randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of the Motor Relearning Program combined with Electrical Muscle Stimulation versus the Motor Relearning Program alone in improving upper limb function in individuals with subacute stroke. Thirty-six eligible participants with subacute stroke will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive MRP together with EMS, while Group B will receive the same MRP without EMS. Both groups will undergo treatment for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Upper limb motor recovery and muscle tone will be evaluated at baseline and after the intervention using the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UEFMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Motor Evaluation Scale for Upper Extremity in Stroke (MESUPES). The findings of this study may help determine whether adding EMS to a structured Motor Relearning Program provides greater improvements in upper limb function than MRP alone in individuals with subacute stroke.

Conditions

Subacute Stroke

Keywords

Stroke Rehabilitation; Motor Relearning Program; Electrical Muscle Stimulation; Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UEFMA)

  The UEFMA will be used to assess upper limb motor recovery following the intervention. Scores obtained at baseline and after the 6-week intervention will be compared between the two study groups to evaluate changes in upper extremity motor function.

  Baseline and Week 6

Study Arms (2)

group A Motor Relearning Program + Electrical Muscle Stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a Motor Relearning Program combined with Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). The Motor Relearning Program will consist of task-oriented upper limb activities for 1 hour per session, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. EMS will be applied to the affected upper limb muscles for 10 minutes during each treatment session.

Device: Electrical Muscle Stimulation

group B Motor Relearning Program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive the same Motor Relearning Program consisting of task-oriented upper limb exercises for 1 hour per session, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks, without Electrical Muscle Stimulation.

Behavioral: Motor Relearning Program

Interventions

Electrical Muscle Stimulation DEVICE

Electrical Muscle Stimulation will be applied to the affected upper limb muscles, including the deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, wrist flexors and extensors, and finger flexors and extensors, using surface electrodes for 10 minutes during each treatment session. Stimulation intensity will be adjusted to produce visible, pain-free muscle contractions according to participant tolerance. EMS will be administered in combination with the Motor Relearning Program, 5 days per week for 6 weeks.

group A Motor Relearning Program + Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Motor Relearning Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a structured Motor Relearning Program consisting of repetitive task-oriented upper limb activities, including reaching, grasping, object manipulation, lifting, puzzle arrangement, and functional daily living tasks. Therapy will be provided for 1 hour per session, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks, with progressive increases in task difficulty according to participant performance.

group B Motor Relearning Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 40-65 years
• Both male and female
• Sub acute stroke patients diagnosed by neurologist
• Motor assessment scale score 2-3
• Subjects able to sit for 30 secs without using upper extremities for support.
• Modified Ashworth scale value \< 2

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with Mini Mental State Examination \<23
• Cognitive disorders and perceptual disorders
• Any musculoskeletal disorders
• Severe cardiac diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Montiha Azeem: lead

Study Sites (1)

Shadman Medical Center, Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Laraib Gull, MSPTN

  The University of Lahore, Lahore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Laraib Gull, MSPTN

CONTACT

03123592198; laraibgull9697@gmail.com

Montiha Azeem, MSPTN

CONTACT

03479717317; muntahaazeem9@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 18, 2026
• First Posted: July 22, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 6, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 6, 2026
• Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

PA (1)