Parallel-group, single-blinded controlled clinical trial. The study involved stroke patients (no more than 3 points on a scale Rankin) dived of the control group and experimental group. Control group received daily sessions of conventional physical therapy. In addition to the same conventional physical therapy treatment, the participants of the experimental group underwent repetitive upper limb Functional Proprioceptive Stimulations (FPS) sessions.
Motor impairments are one of the main disabilities for stroke survivors. It includes a variety of symptoms: muscle weakness, reduce motor control, proprioception and touch, lack of endurance, spastic paresis, pathological synergies and clonuses. These impairments deeply limit their participation in everyday life activities and reduce the likelihood of a return to independence and professional activities. Restoring, maintaining or even enhancing effective sensorimotor interactions are essential for motor recovery. To do so, the use of Functional Proprioceptive Stimulation (FPS) could be a very good option. These FPS are focal vibrations applied to the musculotendinous junction. It activates the muscle spindles, i.e. stretch receptors that signal the length and changes in length of muscles. FPS then produce sensation of muscle lengthening and cause perception of movement. These FPS can also initiate the movement felt. FPS transmit information to the brain in a way that is similar to the information exchange process that occurs normally during movement, even the patient is not moving at all. In doing so, the FPS are able to maintain the patient's sensorimotor interactions, activate similar patterns of cerebral activation to those evoked by real movement. Synchronized multiple localized vibration pattern can induce the perception of complex movements like gait or drawing movements, representing a safe and effective option for rehabilitation purpose. It has been demonstrated for stroke patient that, combine with physical therapy, focal vibration could improve the stability of the proximal arm, increase motor function of the upper limb, or increase the quality of selective motor control. In the current study, the objective was to assess the efficacy of repetitive sessions of FPS in facilitating upper limb function recovery among stroke patients with a Modified Rankin scale score of 3, over a three-week rehabilitation period. Stroke patients participated in the study in Federal Center of Cerebrovascular Pathology and Stroke, Russian Federation Ministry of Health in Moscow, Russia. The study was approved by a local ethic committee and followed principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Parallel-group, single-blinded controlled clinical trial. The study involved stroke patients (no more than 3 points on a scale Rankin) dived of the control group and experimental group. Control group received 12 daily sessions (30 minutes, 5 times a week) of conventional physical therapy. In addition to the same conventional physical therapy treatment, the participants of the experimental group underwent repetitive upper limb FPS sessions (apparatus "Vibramoov" (Techno Concept, France)). The patients received in total 12 Vibramoov sessions of 30 minutes, 5 times a week. Before and after the course of rehabilitation procedures, the condition of the upper extremities was assessed in patients of both groups (muscle tone, muscle strength, clinical scales).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
60
Vibration frequency ranged from 0 to 100 Hz. There were 3 modes of FPS application during rehabilitation course. 1) anti-spasticity mode (FV): the stimulators were placed in the middle of the muscles of the affected limb (i.e. unilaterally); 2) bilateral mode of proprioceptive facilitation; and 3) the unilateral mode of the proprioceptive facilitation. The 2 first sessions were realized with bilateral FPS stimulations plus the anti-spasticity FV mode to reduce the level of hypertonia. Then for 6 consecutive sessions unilateral FPS stimulations of the affected sides imitating the drawing of a straight lines (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), preparing for writing (drawing a circle, triangle, square, spiral) were realized. At last, the 4 remaining FPS sessions were realized unilaterally imitating and promoting the realization of everyday life activities.
Patients received sessions of traditional physical therapy: individual therapy sessions including exercises to strengthen muscles, stretching, reflex exercises for large, medium and small muscle groups of the upper limbs (ontogeny-oriented kinesiotherapy (OOKT), PNF - proprioceptive neuro-muscle facilitation, training and practice of functional rational self-service tasks). 12 sessions in total were realized 5 times a week and lasted 40 minutes each.
Federal Center of Cerebrovascular Pathology and Stroke, Russian Federation Ministry of Health
Moscow, Russia
Muscle strength
Muscle strength was assessed using the MRC (Medical Research Council Weakness Scale). MRC is a commonly used scale for assessing muscle strength from Grade 5 (normal) to Grade 0 (no visible contraction). Paresis is defined as light at compliance with strength 4 points, moderate - 3 points, pronounced - 2 points, rough - 1 point and with - 0 points.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Muscle tone
To assess muscle tone the MAS - Modified Ashworth Scale was used. Scores range from 0 to 4, where lower scores represent normal muscle tone and higher scores represent spasticity.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for upper extremity assessment
Functionality of the upper limbs were assessed using the FMA - Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for upper extremity assessment (FMA-UE). In this study, we used 36 items of the upper arm (proximal musculature, FMA-UA), 24 items of wrist and hand (distal musculature, FMA-W/H), 6 items of aspects of coordination, 12 items of aspects of sensation, 24 items of aspects of passive joint movement, 24 items of joint pain. So the maximum total score on this FMA-UE scale was 126 points.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Frenchay Arm Test
Frenchay Arm Test is designed to assess the motor skills of the upper limbs with central paresis \[29\]. This test includes five tasks, for each successfully completed task the patient receives 1 point, for unfulfilled - 0 points, maximum 5 points.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)
The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) is a 19 item observational measure used by physical therapists and other health care professionals to assess upper extremity performance (coordination, dexterity and functioning) in stroke recovery, brain injury and multiple sclerosis populations. Scores on the ARAT may range from 0-57 points, with a maximum score of 57 points indicating better performance.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) it is a digital version of the visual-analog scale (Visual Analog Scale for pain, VAS). It is a horizontal line, 10 cm long, with numbers from 0 to 10 located on it, where 0 is "no pain", 5 is "moderate pain" and 10 is "the strongest pain imaginable".
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
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