StrokeNCT07792655
Telerehabilitation for Post-Stroke Hand Function
A study testing Technology-Supported Hand Training and Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity in people with Stroke, run by University of Michigan at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a home-based, technology-enabled hand telerehabilitation program for adults with chronic stroke. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- Technology-Supported Hand Training and Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 22 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Oct 2026to 7 Jan 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Unilateral cortical or subcortical stroke
- Chronic stroke (≥ 6 months since stroke)
- No significant cognitive deficits as determined by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (score≥ 22)
Who cannot join
- Cerebellar stroke
- Unstable heart condition, uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension
- Recent trauma or fracture in the upper extremities
- History of significant orthopedic or neurological conditions that could affect hand function (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
- Recent history of significant spatial neglect
- Joint contractures or significant spasticity in the hand
Show all 23Show fewer
- History of a recent Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injection to the upper-extremity muscles (≤ 3 months)
- Pregnant or actively planning to become pregnant (self-reported)
- Inability to communicate or unable to consent
- Exclusion Criteria for subjects exposed to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):
- Unable to obtain reliable motor evoked potentials
- Recent history of repeated fainting spells or syncope.
- Recent history of seizure while on anti-seizure medication
- Recent history of skull fracture/head injury
- Ferromagnetic metal implants in the skull
- Cochlear implant
- Implanted deep brain stimulator
- Implanted vagus nerve stimulator
- Implanted cervical spine epidural stimulator
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt
- Skull defect related to the current stroke
- Previous serious adverse reaction to TMS
- Implanted electronic cardiac device (e.g., cardiac pacemaker)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 325 E Eisenhower Pkwy Suite 3011
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108
Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD, 734-232-5147, tomaugen@umich.edu
Chandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD, 734-936-4031, mouli@umich.edu
About this study
This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a home-based, technology-enabled hand telerehabilitation program for adults with chronic stroke. Participants will receive either remotely guided hand training or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will include measures of hand function, adherence, and feasibility to assess the potential of telerehabilitation for improving access to structured post-stroke hand rehabilitation.
Read the detailed description
Persistent hand impairment after stroke is common and can substantially limit independence in daily activities. Access to intensive, task-specific hand therapy is often constrained by travel, cost, and availability of rehabilitation services, leading many individuals to rely on unsupervised home exercise programs. Telerehabilitation supported by low-cost technology may improve access to structured hand training while allowing remote supervision, but its feasibility and implementation in the home setting require systematic evaluation. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a hand telerehabilitation program for individuals with chronic stroke. The study will be conducted as a single-center pilot randomized controlled trial comparing two home-based interventions: (i) telerehabilitation and (ii) a standard home-advice exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Participants randomized to the telerehabilitation group will complete supervised home training sessions using technology-assisted activities to target hand function, delivered remotely via video conferencing. Participants in the control group will follow a home exercise plan similar to that used in typical post-stroke therapy. Outcome measures will be collected before and after the intervention and will include standardized assessments of hand function, as well as measures of adherence and feasibility. This study (i) involves adult stroke survivors, (ii) presents minimal risk, (iii) does not involve deception, (iv) does not collect sensitive health information, and (v) includes brief, noninvasive, and nonpainful interactions consistent with standard rehabilitation activities.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- Technology-Supported Hand Training, Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity
- Keywords
- hand, upper extremity, stroke survivors, arm, hemiparesis, weakness, finger, individuation
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke, Paresis, Asthenia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Technology-Supported Hand TrainingBehavioural
Participants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities. These activities will target finger coordination, finger individuation, and performance in activities of daily living. Participants may interact with virtual or real passive items to supplement program activities. Activities will be guided remotely by a study team member using video conferencing.
Pamphlet-Supported Hand ActivityBehavioural
Participants will follow a home advice plan to improve hand function. The plan will be created based on the participant's ability and typical occupational therapy guidance. Activities may resemble typical hand rehabilitation activities performed in a therapy clinic and may involve passive items to supplement program activities. Participants will record their adherence to the program.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Technology-Supported Hand Training Group | Experimental | Participants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities in 18 sessions over 6 weeks Receives: Behavioral: Technology-Supported Hand Training |
| Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity Group | Active comparator | Participants will undergo home therapy intervention guided by an advice plan created using typical occupational therapy guidance that includes 18 sessions over 6 weeks Receives: Behavioral: Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Hand Spread
Change in voluntary ability to open the more-impaired hand from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after the intervention (post-intervention). Hand spread will be measured with motion capture equipment. Hand Spread values range from 0 to no upper limit, with a greater value indicating improved voluntary hand opening ability
Measured: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Box and Block Test Score
Change in a measure of arm ability from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion (post-intervention) using publicly available scoring sheets. The Box and Block test is scored based on how many blocks a patient can move between two adjacent boxes in 1 minute with their more-impaired hand. Box and Block scores range from 0 to no upper limit, with a higher score indicating greater arm ability
Measured: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Stroke Impact Scale-Hand Score
Change in the hand function component of the Stroke Impact Scale, a participant-reported measure of hand participation in daily life from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion using publicly available scoring sheets. Stroke Impact Scale-Hand Scores can range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better self-reported hand function in daily life.
Measured: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Aug 2026
- Study start13 Oct 2026
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion7 Jan 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of MichiganThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel intervention groups: a technology-enabled telerehabilitation program or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention to compare feasibility, adherence, and changes in hand function between groups.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Michigan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- American Heart Association
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Thomas Augenstein, University of Michigan
- Investigators
- Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD, Principal investigator, University of MichiganChandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Michigan
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07792655
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HUM00288640
- Other IDs
- 26POST1560801
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Telerehabilitation for Post-Stroke Hand Function
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07792655
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HUM00288640
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Keywords
- hand, upper extremity, stroke survivors, arm, hemiparesis, weakness, finger, individuation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MichiganUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- American Heart Association
- Study start
- 13 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 7 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a home-based, technology-enabled hand telerehabilitation program for adults with chronic stroke. Participants will receive either remotely guided hand training or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will include measures of hand function, adherence, and feasibility to assess the potential of telerehabilitation for improving access to structured post-stroke hand rehabilitation.
Detailed description
Persistent hand impairment after stroke is common and can substantially limit independence in daily activities. Access to intensive, task-specific hand therapy is often constrained by travel, cost, and availability of rehabilitation services, leading many individuals to rely on unsupervised home exercise programs. Telerehabilitation supported by low-cost technology may improve access to structured hand training while allowing remote supervision, but its feasibility and implementation in the home setting require systematic evaluation. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a hand telerehabilitation program for individuals with chronic stroke. The study will be conducted as a single-center pilot randomized controlled trial comparing two home-based interventions: (i) telerehabilitation and (ii) a standard home-advice exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Participants randomized to the telerehabilitation group will complete supervised home training sessions using technology-assisted activities to target hand function, delivered remotely via video conferencing. Participants in the control group will follow a home exercise plan similar to that used in typical post-stroke therapy. Outcome measures will be collected before and after the intervention and will include standardized assessments of hand function, as well as measures of adherence and feasibility. This study (i) involves adult stroke survivors, (ii) presents minimal risk, (iii) does not involve deception, (iv) does not collect sensitive health information, and (v) includes brief, noninvasive, and nonpainful interactions consistent with standard rehabilitation activities.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel intervention groups: a technology-enabled telerehabilitation program or a standard home exercise program matched for duration and intensity. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention to compare feasibility, adherence, and changes in hand function between groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Technology-Supported Hand Training Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Technology-Supported Hand TrainingParticipants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities in 18 sessions over 6 weeks |
| Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Pamphlet-Supported Hand ActivityParticipants will undergo home therapy intervention guided by an advice plan created using typical occupational therapy guidance that includes 18 sessions over 6 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Unilateral cortical or subcortical stroke
- Chronic stroke (≥ 6 months since stroke)
- No significant cognitive deficits as determined by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (score≥ 22)
Key exclusion criteria (23 listed)
- Cerebellar stroke
- Unstable heart condition, uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension
- Recent trauma or fracture in the upper extremities
- History of significant orthopedic or neurological conditions that could affect hand function (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
- Recent history of significant spatial neglect
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Technology-Supported Hand TrainingParticipants will undergo a remotely delivered, technology-supported hand training program that involves guided hand activities. These activities will target finger coordination, finger individuation, and performance in activities of daily living. Participants may interact with virtual or real passive items to supplement program activities. Activities will be guided remotely by a study team member using video conferencing. | Behavioural | Technology-Supported Hand Training Group |
| Pamphlet-Supported Hand ActivityParticipants will follow a home advice plan to improve hand function. The plan will be created based on the participant's ability and typical occupational therapy guidance. Activities may resemble typical hand rehabilitation activities performed in a therapy clinic and may involve passive items to supplement program activities. Participants will record their adherence to the program. | Behavioural | Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity Group |
Primary outcome
Hand Spread
Time frame: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Change in voluntary ability to open the more-impaired hand from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after the intervention (post-intervention). Hand spread will be measured with motion capture equipment. Hand Spread values range from 0 to no upper limit, with a greater value indicating improved voluntary hand opening ability
Box and Block Test Score
Time frame: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Change in a measure of arm ability from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion (post-intervention) using publicly available scoring sheets. The Box and Block test is scored based on how many blocks a patient can move between two adjacent boxes in 1 minute with their more-impaired hand. Box and Block scores range from 0 to no upper limit, with a higher score indicating greater arm ability
Stroke Impact Scale-Hand Score
Time frame: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)
Change in the hand function component of the Stroke Impact Scale, a participant-reported measure of hand participation in daily life from before the intervention (pre-intervention) to after its completion using publicly available scoring sheets. Stroke Impact Scale-Hand Scores can range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better self-reported hand function in daily life.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD principal investigator
University of Michigan
Chandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD principal investigator
University of Michigan
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Technology-Supported Hand Training and Pamphlet-Supported Hand Activity in people with Stroke, run by University of Michigan at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 23 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Thomas E Augenstein, MSE, PhD (734-232-5147, tomaugen@umich.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Hand Spread (time frame: Pre-intervention (an average of up to 1 week before the first intervention session) and post-intervention (an average of up to 1 week after completion of the 6-week intervention)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Oct 2026.