Effectiveness of unilateral and symmetrical bilateral task training for arm during the subacute phase after stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an arm training programme combining repetition of unilateral and symmetrical bilateral tasks for people in the subacute phase after stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Inpatient functional rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Forty-one people who had had a stroke, in the subacute phase, receiving conventional arm occupational and physical therapy, were randomized to an experimental group ( n = 20) and a control group ( n = 21). Interventions: In addition to the usual arm therapy in the rehabilitation unit, the experimental group received an arm therapy programme (15 - 20 45-min sessions) based on repetition of unilateral and symmetrical bilateral tasks. The control group received additional usual arm therapy of a similar duration and frequency to the experimental treatment. Main measures: The effect of the programme was judged on the basis of: ( 1) arm impairments ( motor function, grip strength, gross and fine manual dexterity and motor co-ordination), ( 2) arm disabilities in tasks related to daily activities, and ( 3) functional independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL). Results: Although both experimental and control groups of participants improved similarly during the study period, the statistical analyses did not show any difference between the groups at the end of the treatment for the different dependent variables evaluated: ( 1) arm impairments: p = 0.43 - 0.79; ( 2) arm disabilities: p = 0.16 - 0.90; and ( 3) functional independence: p = 0.63 and 0.90. Conclusions: An arm training programme based on repetition of unilateral and symmetrical bilateral practice did not reduce impairment and disabilities nor improve functional outcomes in the subacute phase after stroke more than the usual therapy.