Comparing Different Rehabilitation Exercise Strategies for Improving Arm Recovery After Stroke
The purpose of this research study is to measure the effect of participating in extra arm exercise in addition to standard rehabilitation exercises in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit. This study will compare two different ways to perform the extra arm exercise. The first is following a customized program of hand and arm exercises that will be developed for study participants by an experienced rehabilitation therapist. The second is moving a participants arm back and forth when they are sitting in their wheelchair by using a moveable wheelchair arm rest (Boost).
• 18 to 84 years of age
• Experienced a single stroke or multiple strokes \>3 days and \< 4 weeks prior to study enrollment, and currently admitted or accepted into Acute Rehabilitation program for stroke.
• UE Fugl-Meyer Motor Score \<42/66
• Absence of moderate to severe shoulder pain while using the movable wheelchair arm rest device (\<6 on the 10-point visual analog pain scale)
• Absence of severe tone at the affected UE (score \<4 on the Modified Ashworth Spasticity Scale)
• Deem to be an appropriate candidate for manual wheelchair by ARU clinicians. A patient who has been able to transfer into a wheelchair while at ARU (with or without assistance) and has tolerated sitting in the wheelchair for at least 30 minutes.