Acerenza

Researchers are evaluating the DESC-Glove, a special glove designed to help people recover hand and arm movement after a stroke by providing gentle vibrations during rehabilitation. This study aims to check how well the glove works technically, how safe and reliable it is, and how patients and therapists feel about using it. Additionally, the study will look at whether using the glove can improve hand function and dexterity shortly after stroke. The study has two parts. In the first part, 5 patients will try the DESC-Glove in four treatment sessions involving fine hand and larger arm exercises to test its initial function and patient compliance. In the second part, 42 participants will be randomly divided into three groups: one using the DESC-Glove with vibration, one using the glove without vibration (sham), and one receiving traditional rehabilitation without the glove. Treatments include 24 sessions over 4 weeks, with two 20-minute therapy sessions per day, three days per week. Participants will wear the DESC-Glove on their affected hand during therapy sessions, and researchers will monitor device malfunctions and dropouts shortly after each session. The study will also assess patient and therapist feedback, sensorimotor performance, and manual dexterity. Monitoring will continue through all sessions to ensure safety and gather data for future improvements.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation using Robot and Allied Digital Technologies (RADTs) compared to traditional rehabilitation in patients who have had a stroke within the past six months. This large multicenter randomized controlled trial aims to assess not only recovery of daily living activities but also upper and lower limb abilities, balance, cognitive skills, neurophysiological factors, and the economic sustainability of treatments. The study uses a pragmatic approach with blinded assessors across inpatient and outpatient settings. Participants are randomly assigned to two groups: one receives robotic rehabilitation with two physiotherapists supervising 4 to 6 patients in a gym equipped with advanced devices, while the other group receives traditional one-on-one physiotherapy. Both groups complete 25 sessions of 45 minutes each. Inpatients attend sessions 5 times a week for 5 weeks, and outpatients attend 3 times a week for about 8.3 weeks. Treatments focus on improving sensorimotor functions of upper and lower limbs, gait, balance, and cognitive abilities. During the study, participants' progress is assessed using the modified Barthel Index to measure changes in daily living activities. Researchers also evaluate other motor and cognitive outcomes, neuroplasticity, treatment acceptability, usability, and cost-effectiveness. Standardized procedures and data collection through the REDCap platform ensure consistency. The total study participation includes treatment sessions and follow-up assessments to monitor medium-term effects and safety.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based telerehabilitation program using digital tools compared to a traditional home-based educational program for patients with disabilities following a stroke. The study focuses on improving static and dynamic balance in patients with subacute and chronic stroke, aiming to demonstrate whether digital rehabilitation is superior to usual care. This is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving multiple clinical centers in a national research initiative. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive an integrated treatment with digital tools through a 6-week remote telerehabilitation program, with a minimum of three sessions per week, including one synchronous session with a therapist and the rest asynchronous. The other group will follow a home-based educational program with weekly phone call monitoring and activity diary maintenance for six weeks. Treatment adherence and session completion are monitored. During the study, participants will undergo assessments including the Berg Balance Scale at baseline and after the 6-week intervention to measure changes in balance. Data collection is standardized across centers using an electronic platform. The study also evaluates secondary outcomes such as intervention frequency impact, acceptability, usability, and economic sustainability. Participants are monitored weekly, and treatment progress is tracked through diaries and phone calls, with a total participation duration of six weeks.