An Upper Extremity Exoskeleton to Target Unwanted Joint Synergies During Repetitive Training in Stroke Survivors

Description

Stroke is the leading cause of adult-onset disability, and affects 15,000 Veterans each year. Successful rehabilitation and recovery following a stroke requires therapy including repetitive task training. However, repetitive task training can be draining for both the clinician and the patient as it requires the participant to complete many repetitions of the same task and those repetitions can be difficult to accomplish with appropriate technique. Robot-mediated repetitive task training has the potential to facilitate the clinical delivery of proven rehabilitation programs to Veterans in need and recently a new exoskeleton has been developed, called Harmony, which can deliver bimanual 3D arm therapy. The investigators propose to develop and test two novel controllers', synergy avoidance and task assistance, that use promising neurological basis for training to facilitate repetitive task training while ensuring correct movement patterns in acute and sub-acute stage stroke patients. This has the potential to improve Veterans' activities of daily living and quality of life.

Conditions

Acute Stroke

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Stroke is the leading cause of adult-onset disability, and affects 15,000 Veterans each year. Successful rehabilitation and recovery following a stroke requires therapy including repetitive task training. However, repetitive task training can be draining for both the clinician and the patient as it requires the participant to complete many repetitions of the same task and those repetitions can be difficult to accomplish with appropriate technique. Robot-mediated repetitive task training has the potential to facilitate the clinical delivery of proven rehabilitation programs to Veterans in need and recently a new exoskeleton has been developed, called Harmony, which can deliver bimanual 3D arm therapy. The investigators propose to develop and test two novel controllers', synergy avoidance and task assistance, that use promising neurological basis for training to facilitate repetitive task training while ensuring correct movement patterns in acute and sub-acute stage stroke patients. This has the potential to improve Veterans' activities of daily living and quality of life.

Developing and Determining Feasibility of a Novel Upper Extremity Robotic Exoskeleton to Track and Target Unwanted Joint Synergies During Repetitive Task Training in Stroke Survivors

An Upper Extremity Exoskeleton to Target Unwanted Joint Synergies During Repetitive Training in Stroke Survivors

Condition
Acute Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Seattle

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98108-1532

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * over the age of 18 years,
  • * have a Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity score of 29-42 for moderately impaired (aim 1) or 0-28 for severely impaired (aim 1 and 2),
  • * have body dimensions within the limits of the Harmony system
  • * suffered a stroke within the past 1-6 months (aim 1) or 1 week (aim 2)
  • * recurrent stroke,
  • * unstable cardiovascular, orthopedic, or neurological conditions,
  • * a history of seizure,
  • * significant communication deficits,
  • * severe upper-limb joint pain or limitations that would restrict their ability to complete the protocols,
  • * inadequate cognitive or language function to consent or to participate, and (7) no phone number or stable mailing address.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Brittney C Muir, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Study Record Dates

2026-09-30