Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30876438›Full record

ArticleTrials2019

Upper limb strength training in subacute stroke patients: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Susan Högg, Manfred Holzgraefe, Insa Wingendorf, Jan Mehrholz, Christoph Herrmann, Mark Obermann

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Susan HöggAsklepios Kliniken Schildautal, Klinik für Neurologische Rehabilitation und Klinik für Neurologische Frührehabilitation, Physiotherapie, Seesen, Germany.
Manfred HolzgraefeAsklepios Kliniken Schildautal, Klinik für Neurologische Rehabilitation, Seesen, Germany.
Insa WingendorfAsklepios Kliniken Schildautal, Physiotherapie, Seesen, Germany.
Jan MehrholzDepartment of Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany. jan.mehrholz@tu-dresden.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7180-5434
Christoph HerrmannAsklepios Kliniken Schildautal, Klinik für Neurologische Rehabilitation, Seesen, Germany.
Mark ObermannAsklepios Kliniken Schildautal, Zentrum für Neurologie, Seesen, Germany.
Asklepios Kliniken Schildautal · DETechnische Universität Dresden · DE

Funding

Technische Universität Dresden We acknowledge support by the German Research Foundation and the Open Access Publication Funds of the SLUB/TU Dresden
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStroke patients are often affected by arm paresis, have functional impairments and receive help from professional or informal caregivers. Progressive resistance training is a common intervention for functional impairments after paresis. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) showed benefits for functional recovery after resistance training. However, there is a lack of evidence for strength training in subacute stroke patients. The aim of this study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of arm strength training in subacute stroke patients.

methodsWe will conduct a prospective, assessor-blinded RCT of people with subacute stroke. We will randomly assign patients to one of two parallel groups in a 1:1 ratio and will use concealed allocation. The intervention group will receive, in addition to standard treatment, high-intensity arm training (three times per week, over three weeks; 60 min each session; with a total of nine additional sessions). The control group will receive, in addition to standard treatment, low-intensity arm training (same quantity, frequency and treatment time as the intervention group). Standard treatment for the affected arm includes mobilisation, stretching, therapeutic positioning, arm and hand motor training, strengthening exercises, mechanical assisted training, functional training and task-oriented training. The primary efficacy endpoint will be grip strength. Secondary outcome measures will be Modified Ashworth Scale, Motricity Index, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper limb, Box and Block Test and Goal Attainment Scale for individual participatory goals. We will measure primary and secondary outcomes with blinded assessors at baseline and immediately after three weeks of additional therapy. Based on our sample size calculation, 78 patients will be recruited from our rehabilitation hospital in two and a half years. Drop-out rates and adverse events will be systematically recorded. DISCUSSION: This study attempts to close the evidence gap for effects of arm strength training in subacute stroke patients. The results of this trial will provide robust evidence for effects and safety of high-intensity arm training for people with stroke.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012484 . Registered on 26 May 2017.

Indexed as

Muscle StrengthDisability EvaluationGermanyHand StrengthHumansMuscle, SkeletalMuscle Strength DynamometerProspective StudiesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecovery of FunctionResistance TrainingStrokeStroke RehabilitationTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeUpper ExtremityRehabilitationStrengthStrokeTrainingUpper limb

Identifiers

PMID30876438
PMCPMC6420769
OpenAlexW2933635850

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.