About this trial
Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries, with significant economic and social impacts. Defined by the WHO, strokes cause rapid and lasting disturbances in cerebral function. In the UK, strokes occur every five minutes, affecting 100,000 people annually and resulting in substantial physical impairments and financial costs. Although stroke-related deaths have decreased due to improved treatments and awareness, strokes remain a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in lower-income countries. Strokes typically cause unilateral deficits, leading to significant daily challenges and necessitating tailored rehabilitation strategies such as CIMT, FES, and VR Rehab. As the population ages, innovative neurorehabilitation approaches are essential to enhance functional recovery post-stroke. This pilot study aims to better understand the neuromuscular deficits caused by stroke to inform and improve future rehabilitation interventions, including the potential use of force accuracy training (FAT)
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
• Aged between 40-85 years
Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
Had a confirmed stroke within the last 5 years
Self-reports persisting post-stroke loss of unilateral limb function
Disqualifiers
• Diagnosis of cognitive impairment/dementia
Current or recent (<2y) malignancy
Severe respiratory disease (e.g., uncontrolled asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension)
Active cardiovascular disease: Uncontrolled hypertension (BP>160/100mmHg); Recent (<12mo) cardiac event; Heart failure (Class III/IV); Significant arrhythmia; Unstable angina
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Neuromuscular function