SISTERS: Spasticity In Stroke Study - Randomized Study

AS is a manual test, measuring the resistance to passive movement about a joint with varying degrees of velocity. Scores range from 1-5, with 5 choices. A score of 1 indicates no resistance, and 5 indicates rigidity. The following muscle groups in the upper extremities were assessed: wrist flexors, elbow flexors, elbow extensors, shoulder abductors and shoulder adductors. Average AS was calculated as the average of AS scores of the 5 muscles of the affected lower extremities. Change in average AS in affected upper extremities from baseline to month 6 between ITB and BMT arm was assessed.

Change= AS at month 6 - AS at baseline.

FIM contains 18 items composed of 13 motor tasks and 5 cognitive tasks. Tasks are rated on a 7-point ordinal scale that ranges from total assistance (or complete dependence) to complete independence. Ratings should reflect actual observed performance, not capability. Total score ranges from 18 (lowest) to 126 (highest) level of independence. Change in FIM total score from baseline to month 6 between ITB and BMT arm was assessed. Change=FIM score at month 6 - FIM score at baseline.

Change in average 10MTWT from baseline to month 6 beetween ITB and BMT arm. Change=10MTWT at month 6 - 10MTWT at baseline

Patient was asked to transfer from the wheelchair to bed without human assistance. High level functional patient (HLP) could transfer. Low level functional patient (LLP) was not able to transfer. Comparison of the number and percentage of HLP and LLP between ITB and BMT arms was evaluated.

NPRS is designed to assess the level of pain a patient is feeling at a point in time. The following questions has been presented to patients: What is your actual spasticity-related or spasm-related pain? What was your least spasticity-related or spasm-related pain during the last week? What was your worst spasticity-related or spasm-related pain during the last week? The patient indicated how much pain he is feeling on a scale from 0 to 10. A score of 0 (zero) is "no pain" while a score of 10 (ten) is "worst possible pain". Change in NPRS related to actual, least or worst pain from baseline to month 6 between ITB and BMT arm was assessed. Change=NPRS at month 6 - NPRS at baseline.

GAS is designed to measure the achievement of treatment goals using the following 6 levels of achievement: worse than start (-3), much less than expected (-2), somewhat less than expected (-1), as expected (0), somewhat more than expected (+1), much more than expected (+2). The primary therapy goal and the criteria for the levels of achievement was defined by the medical team together with the patient and his/her family/legal representative/caregiver at the first day of the study. The number and percentage of patients who achieved the therapeutic goal at Month 6 was compared between the ITB and BMT arm.

The EQ-5D-3L is a generic measure of health status consisting in the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The EQ-5D-3L descriptive system is characterized on five dimensions: mobility, self-care, ability to undertake usual activities, pain and anxiety/depression. Patients were asked to indicate their level of health on each dimension using one of three levels: "no health problems", "moderate health problems", and "severe health problems". Responses from the questionnaire were converted to a single health index utility score; this ranges from -0.595 to 1. EQ VAS records the patient's self-rated health on a vertical visual analogue scale from 0 to 100 where the endpoints are labelled 'Best imaginable health state' (100) and 'Worst imaginable health state' (0). Change in EQ-5D-3L utility score and VAS score from baseline to month 6 between ITB and BMT arm were assessed. Change=EQ-5D-3L utility or VAS score at month 6 - EQ-5D-3L utility or VAS score.

The SF-12 is generic assessment of health-related quality of life, which evaluates 8 health dimensions (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, mental health, and general health). Subscale scores for each dimension were aggregated into summary scores for physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) components (ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health). Changes in the PCS and MCS from baseline to Month 6 were both compared between the BMT and ITB arms. Change=SF-12 score at month 6 - SF-12 score at baseline.

SS-QoL questionnaire is a self-assessed quality of life questionnaire specifically designed for post-stroke patients. It evaluates 49 items across 12-domains: personality, energy, language, mobility, vision, upper extremity function, thinking, mood, work/productivity, self-care, and family and social roles. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert Scale, measuring either positive or negative response to a statement. Summary score is composed of an unweighted average of the 12 domain scores, with higher scores indicating better QoL. Total score ranges from 1 to 5. Change in SS-QoL summary score from baseline to month 6 between ITB and BMT arm was assessed.

Change=SS-QoL score at month 6 - SS-QoL score at baseline.

Patients were presented with two statements ("I am satisfied with the reduction in spasticity provided by my treatment", and "I would recommend this therapy to a friend"). They agreed, disagreed or were neutral with the statements.

Number of patients with healthcare professional contacts outside of study visits in the ITB and BMT between baseline and months 6