Treatment Effect and Relevance on Daily Life of a Video-supervised Sensorimotor Training Program and Its Influence on the Pathophysiology in Writer's Cramp

What this Trial Is About

Writer's cramp is a common task-specific movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions during writing, often impacting daily life and work. This research evaluates the effectiveness of two different year-long training programs for people with writer's cramp. The study compares a sensorimotor training program with an awareness training program, aiming to develop a practical therapy accessible to patients regardless of location. The study is conducted by the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and includes brain imaging to explore changes in brain function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving sensorimotor training focused on improving finger and wrist movements, progressing to specific writing exercises after four weeks; the other group will engage in mindfulness exercises designed to increase present-moment awareness of self and surroundings. Both groups will be supervised via video calls to support their practice. The interventions last twelve months, with ongoing monitoring. Throughout the study, participants will undergo regular assessments at months 4, 8, and 12, including the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure to capture patient-centered outcomes, clinical scales for symptom evaluation, and detailed computer-based writing analysis. Functional MRI scans will be conducted to assess brain network changes during writing tasks. Additional interviews and reaction time tasks will provide further insights. The study promises minimal risk, with MRI procedures comparable to standard non-contrast scans.

Video-supervised Motor and Awareness Training in Writer's Cramp