Telerehabilitation for Post-Stroke Hand Function

NCT07792655 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: HUM0028864026POST1560801
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a home-based, technology-enabled hand telerehabilitation program for adults with chronic stroke. Participants will receive either remotely guided hand training or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will include measures of hand function, adherence, and feasibility to assess the potential of telerehabilitation for improving access to structured post-stroke hand rehabilitation.

Conditions

Stroke

Keywords

hand; upper extremity; stroke survivors; arm; hemiparesis; weakness; finger; individuation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Hand Spread

  Change in voluntary ability to open the more-impaired hand from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after the intervention (post-intervention). Hand spread will be measured with motion capture equipment.

  Pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements will be taken on separate days, within approximately one week of the first and last sessions of the intervention, respectively

• Box and Block Test Score

  Change in a measure of arm ability from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion (post-intervention) using publicly available scoring sheets. The Box-and-Block test is scored based on how many blocks a patient can move between two adjacent boxes in 1 minute with their more-impaired hand, with a higher score representing greater arm ability

  Pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements will be taken on separate days, within approximately one week of the first and last sessions of the intervention, respectively

• Stroke Impact Scale-Hand Score

  Change in a participant-reported measure of hand participation in daily life from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion using publicly available scoring sheets. A higher score denotes better self-reported hand function in daily life.

  Pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements will be taken on separate days, within approximately one week of the first and last sessions of the intervention, respectively

Other Outcomes (7)

• Adherence

  Post-intervention (immediately following last session of intervention)

• Qualitative Survey

  Post-intervention (within approximately one week of the last session of the intervention)

• Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Score (Hand Section) Score

  Pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements will be taken on separate days, within approximately one week of the first and last sessions of the intervention, respectively

Study Arms (2)

Technology-Supported Hand Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities in 18 sessions over 6 weeks

Behavioral: Technology-Supported Hand Training

Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will undergo home therapy intervention guided by an advice plan created using typical occupational therapy guidance that includes 18 sessions over 6 weeks

Behavioral: Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity

Interventions

Technology-Supported Hand Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities. These activities will target finger coordination, finger individuation, and performance in activities of daily living. Participants may interact with virtual or real passive items to supplement program activities. Activities will be guided remotely by a study team member using video conferencing.

Technology-Supported Hand Training Group

Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow a home advice plan to improve hand function. The plan will be created based on the participant's ability and typical occupational therapy guidance. Activities may resemble typical hand rehabilitation activities performed in a therapy clinic and may involve passive items to supplement program activities. Participants will record their adherence to the program.

Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Unilateral cortical or subcortical stroke
• Chronic stroke (≥ 6 months since stroke)
• No significant cognitive deficits as determined by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (score≥ 22)

You may not qualify if:

• Cerebellar stroke
• Unstable heart condition, uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension
• Recent trauma or fracture in the upper extremities
• History of significant orthopedic or neurological conditions that could affect hand function (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
• Recent history of significant spatial neglect
• Joint contractures or significant spasticity in the hand
• History of a recent Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injection to the upper-extremity muscles (≤ 3 months)
• Pregnant or actively planning to become pregnant (self-reported)
• Inability to communicate or unable to consent
• Unable to obtain reliable motor evoked potentials
• Recent history of repeated fainting spells or syncope.
• Recent history of seizure while on anti-seizure medication
• Recent history of skull fracture/head injury
• Ferromagnetic metal implants in the skull
• Cochlear implant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Michigan: lead
• American Heart Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 325 E Eisenhower Pkwy Suite 3011

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Paresis; Asthenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD

  University of Michigan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Chandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD

  University of Michigan

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD

CONTACT

734-232-5147; tomaugen@umich.edu

Chandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD

CONTACT

734-936-4031; mouli@umich.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Fellow, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical School

Model Details: Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel intervention groups: a technology-enabled telerehabilitation program or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention to compare feasibility, adherence, and changes in hand function between groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 25, 2026
• First Posted: August 28, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 7, 2028
• Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)