Does sensorimotor upper limb therapy post stroke alter behavior and brain connectivity differently compared to motor therapy? Protocol of a phase II randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The role of somatosensory feedback in motor performance has been warranted in the literature. Although sensorimotor deficits are common after stroke, current rehabilitation approaches primarily focus on restoring upper limb motor ability. Evidence for integrative sensorimotor rehabilitation approaches is scarce, as is knowledge about neural correlates of somatosensory impairments after stroke and the effect of rehabilitation on brain connectivity level. Therefore, we aim to investigate changes in sensorimotor function and brain connectivity following a sensorimotor therapy program compared to an attention-matched motor therapy program for the upper limb after stroke.

Methods

An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Sixty inpatient rehabil

SUBMITTER: De Bruyn N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910616 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature