Translating animal doses of task-specific training to people with chronic stroke in 1-hour therapy sessions: a proof-of-concept study
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Published on: January 15, 2017
Rebecca L Birkenmeier1, Eliza M Prager, Catherine E Lang
1Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Objective:
The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the feasibility of translating high-repetition doses of upper-extremity (UE) task-specific training to people with stroke within the confines of the current outpatient delivery system of 1-hour therapy sessions and (2) to gather preliminary data regarding the potential benefit of this intensity of training.
Methods:
A total of 15 patients with chronic (>6 months) UE paresis caused by stroke underwent 3 weeks of baseline assessments followed by 6 weeks of the high-repetition intervention (3 sessions/wk for 6 weeks). During each 1-hour session, participants were challenged to complete 300 or more repetitions of UE functional task training (3 tasks x 100 repetitions). Assessments during and after the intervention were used to measure feasibility and potential benefit.
Results:
For the 13 participants completing the intervention, the average number of repetitions per session was 322. The percentage of sessions attended was 97%. Participant ratings of pain and fatigue were low. Action Research Arm test scores improved an average of 8 points during the intervention and were maintained at the 1-month follow-up. Secondary measures of activity and participation increased, but the measure of impairment did not.
Conclusions:
It is feasible to deliver hundreds of repetitions of task-specific training to people with stroke in 1-hour therapy sessions. Preliminary outcome data suggest that this intervention may be beneficial for some people with stroke.