Comparing One-Arm and Two-Arm Task Training with Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Improve Arm and Hand Function After Stroke in Adults Aged 40 to 75

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating two types of upper limb rehabilitation training for individuals recovering from stroke. This randomized clinical trial aims to compare unilateral task-oriented training with bilateral task-oriented training to determine which approach is more effective. The study includes 32 medically stable participants aged 40 to 75 years who have experienced a stroke within the past 6 to 24 months and have active shoulder movement and sufficient cognitive function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive unilateral task-oriented training combined with electrical muscle stimulation EMS, focusing tasks on the affected arm with exercises progressing from simple to complex. The other group will receive bilateral task-oriented training with EMS, performing the same tasks using both arms simultaneously in a coordinated way. Both groups will have training sessions four times per week for four weeks, with therapists providing feedback and support. During the study, participants will undergo assessments of motor recovery and upper extremity function after four weeks, along with measurements of hand dexterity. Standardized tools will be used to evaluate these outcomes. The trial includes double masking and random allocation to study groups. The study duration covers the four-week treatment period, with close monitoring of participant progress and safety throughout.

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Task-specific Training on Motor Impairment, Upper Extremity Function, and Hand Dexterity in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation