PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy

Abstract Background Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability with paucity of evidence-based interventions for individuals with severe upper extremity impairment in the affected arm. Loss of independent joint control limits reaching distance and velocity contributing to activity and partic...

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Main Authors: Heidi R. Roth, Carolina Carmona, Gina Clark, Jane E. Gyarmaty, Julius P. A. Dewald, Elise Giblin, Richard L. Harvey, Jacquelyn Jaskiewicz, Kwang-Youn A. Kim, Nicola Lancki, Alexis Luhrsen, Ahalya Mandana, Deepali Manikonda, Andrew Morris, Sonia Sheth, Mary Ellen Stoykov, Amanda C. Young, Donna Zielke, Michael D. Ellis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Trials
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08969-6
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author Heidi R. Roth
Carolina Carmona
Gina Clark
Jane E. Gyarmaty
Julius P. A. Dewald
Elise Giblin
Richard L. Harvey
Jacquelyn Jaskiewicz
Kwang-Youn A. Kim
Nicola Lancki
Alexis Luhrsen
Ahalya Mandana
Deepali Manikonda
Andrew Morris
Sonia Sheth
Mary Ellen Stoykov
Amanda C. Young
Donna Zielke
Michael D. Ellis
author_facet Heidi R. Roth
Carolina Carmona
Gina Clark
Jane E. Gyarmaty
Julius P. A. Dewald
Elise Giblin
Richard L. Harvey
Jacquelyn Jaskiewicz
Kwang-Youn A. Kim
Nicola Lancki
Alexis Luhrsen
Ahalya Mandana
Deepali Manikonda
Andrew Morris
Sonia Sheth
Mary Ellen Stoykov
Amanda C. Young
Donna Zielke
Michael D. Ellis
author_sort Heidi R. Roth
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability with paucity of evidence-based interventions for individuals with severe upper extremity impairment in the affected arm. Loss of independent joint control limits reaching distance and velocity contributing to activity and participation limitations. Emerging evidence demonstrates improved independent upper extremity joint movement with training combining shoulder abduction loading during high repetition, task-specific reaching practice. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes for one-year post-stroke for participants who receive reaching training with vs without progressive shoulder abduction loading during upper extremity reaching training using a standardized mechantronic device. Methods This is a phase II, double-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted at two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Eighty-six individuals will be recruited upon admission to acute inpatient rehabilitation and randomly allocated to either the experimental or active comparator intervention groups. Both groups will receive reaching training with the affected upper extremity in a standardized mechatronic device 4 days per week while in inpatient or day rehabilitation. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, weekly while in inpatient and day rehabilitation, and every other month after discharge until one year post-stroke. Primary outcomes include change in reaching function of the affected upper extremity, measured by kinematic evaluation. This captures the loss of independent joint control due to flexion synergy expression. Secondary outcomes include measures of severity of flexion synergy motor impairment, Action Research Arm Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and the Stroke Impact Scale. Discussion This study will test the efficacy of progressive shoulder abduction loading during reaching training using a mechatronic device. The results of this study have the potential to inform clinical practice for upper extremity reaching training for individuals with severe upper extremity impairment post-stroke to reduce flexion synergy expression. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04118998. Registered on 8 October 2019.
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spelling doaj-art-e1847a4905c845ee941550bd9770381a2025-08-20T04:03:00ZengBMCTrials1745-62152025-07-0126111110.1186/s13063-025-08969-6PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapyHeidi R. Roth0Carolina Carmona1Gina Clark2Jane E. Gyarmaty3Julius P. A. Dewald4Elise Giblin5Richard L. Harvey6Jacquelyn Jaskiewicz7Kwang-Youn A. Kim8Nicola Lancki9Alexis Luhrsen10Ahalya Mandana11Deepali Manikonda12Andrew Morris13Sonia Sheth14Mary Ellen Stoykov15Amanda C. Young16Donna Zielke17Michael D. Ellis18Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityDepartment of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityShirley Ryan AbilityLabDepartment of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityDepartment of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation HospitalShirley Ryan AbilityLabNorthwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation HospitalDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of MedicineDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of MedicineShirley Ryan AbilityLabDepartment of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation HospitalShirley Ryan AbilityLabNorthwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation HospitalShirley Ryan AbilityLabShirley Ryan AbilityLabNorthwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation HospitalDepartment of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityAbstract Background Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability with paucity of evidence-based interventions for individuals with severe upper extremity impairment in the affected arm. Loss of independent joint control limits reaching distance and velocity contributing to activity and participation limitations. Emerging evidence demonstrates improved independent upper extremity joint movement with training combining shoulder abduction loading during high repetition, task-specific reaching practice. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes for one-year post-stroke for participants who receive reaching training with vs without progressive shoulder abduction loading during upper extremity reaching training using a standardized mechantronic device. Methods This is a phase II, double-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted at two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Eighty-six individuals will be recruited upon admission to acute inpatient rehabilitation and randomly allocated to either the experimental or active comparator intervention groups. Both groups will receive reaching training with the affected upper extremity in a standardized mechatronic device 4 days per week while in inpatient or day rehabilitation. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, weekly while in inpatient and day rehabilitation, and every other month after discharge until one year post-stroke. Primary outcomes include change in reaching function of the affected upper extremity, measured by kinematic evaluation. This captures the loss of independent joint control due to flexion synergy expression. Secondary outcomes include measures of severity of flexion synergy motor impairment, Action Research Arm Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and the Stroke Impact Scale. Discussion This study will test the efficacy of progressive shoulder abduction loading during reaching training using a mechatronic device. The results of this study have the potential to inform clinical practice for upper extremity reaching training for individuals with severe upper extremity impairment post-stroke to reduce flexion synergy expression. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04118998. Registered on 8 October 2019.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08969-6StrokeUpper extremitySynergyRehabilitation
spellingShingle Heidi R. Roth
Carolina Carmona
Gina Clark
Jane E. Gyarmaty
Julius P. A. Dewald
Elise Giblin
Richard L. Harvey
Jacquelyn Jaskiewicz
Kwang-Youn A. Kim
Nicola Lancki
Alexis Luhrsen
Ahalya Mandana
Deepali Manikonda
Andrew Morris
Sonia Sheth
Mary Ellen Stoykov
Amanda C. Young
Donna Zielke
Michael D. Ellis
PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
Trials
Stroke
Upper extremity
Synergy
Rehabilitation
title PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
title_full PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
title_fullStr PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
title_full_unstemmed PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
title_short PRALINE: study protocol for a phase IIb inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
title_sort praline study protocol for a phase iib inpatient stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trial investigating longitudinal outcomes after progressive abduction loading therapy
topic Stroke
Upper extremity
Synergy
Rehabilitation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08969-6
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