WAVES: Wristband accelerometers to motivate arm exercises after stroke
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN82306027 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82306027 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 31066 |
- Submission date
- 07/07/2016
- Registration date
- 12/07/2016
- Last edited
- 07/05/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
A stroke is a serious condition where the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, usually by a blood clot blocking an artery (ischaemic stroke) or a bleed (haemorrhagic stroke). One of the most common complications of a stroke is weakness on one side of the body (hemiparesis), which is particularly common in the arms or legs. Stroke survivors report that services do not pay enough attention to loss of arm movement, which affects many people and has a large impact on their quality of life. There is increasing evidence that performing many extra practice movements can help arm recovery as long as these reflect useful activities such as washing or dressing. Despite national clinical recommendations, the NHS lacks sufficient therapists to supervise this additional practice, and so therapy programmes have been developed which patients can complete by themselves with regular checks by a therapist. However, as experienced by many people who start to exercise regularly, it is a challenge for patients to measure how much activity has been done and to remain motivated. This study will test a new piece of technology (a movement sensor or “accelerometer” which is worn of the affected arm which gives feedback to prompt patients to move their arm more) to improve the effectiveness of a daily arm therapy programme. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of conducting a study of wrist worn accelerometers with vibrating-alert and visual feedback to prompt exercise of the arm during rehabilitation after stroke.
Who can participate?
Adults who have had a stroke between 48 hours and three months ago which has led to loss of arm function, who are within an NHS stroke rehabilitation service.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups undertake a four week therapy programme of arm exercises. The therapist will suggest appropriate arm activities to practice at home to support therapy sessions and discuss how their arm can be used in normal daily activities. Participants also receive a wristband to wear on the stroke side from 8am to 8pm during this four week period. Participants in the first group wear the active wristband (accelerometer) with an integrated vibrating-alert function and visual display feedback (the CueS device) which provides feedback (via vibrations and a light up display) to prompt more limb use if activity falls below a personalised threshold. The device also provides visual feedback on achievement towards the threshold so well as a twice weekly objective report of movement and prompts. Participants in the second group wear a ‘sham’ CueS device for four weeks which will monitor impaired limb activity but will not provide prompts, feedback or reports to guide therapy. Participants in both groups complete a number of questionnaires at the start of the study and then after four and eight weeks in order to find out if there have been any changes to their arm function. At the end of the study, the amount of participants that have been recruited and the number who saw the study through are recorded to find out if a larger study would be feasible.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
1. Wansbeck General Hospital (UK)
2. North Tyneside General Hospital (UK)
3. University of North Tees Hospital (UK)
4. Queen Elizabeth Hospital (UK)
5. Royal Victoria Infirmary (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2016 to December 2017
Who is funding the study?
Stroke Association (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Ms Ruth Da Silva
Ruth.Da-Silva@ncl.ac.uk
Contact information
Public
Stroke Research Group
Newcastle University
3-4 Claremont Terrace
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4AE
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-8897-4090 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)191 208 3842 |
| Ruth.Da-Silva@ncl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Observer blind parallel group pragmatic pilot randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Wristband Accelerometers to motiVate arm Exercise after Stroke, a pilot randomised controlled trial (WAVES) |
| Study acronym | WAVES |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a multi-centre, observer blind, randomised controlled trial of wrist worn accelerometers with vibrating-alert and visual feedback to prompt functional exercise of the upper limb during rehabilitation after stroke. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee North East – Newcastle & North Tyneside, 29/03/2016, ref: 16/NE/0063 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Specialty: Stroke, Primary sub-specialty: Rehabilitation; UKCRC code/ Disease: Stroke/ Cerebrovascular diseases |
| Intervention | Participants are randomly allocated to one of two study groups in a 1:1 ratio using a computer generated randomisation system will be used to randomise participants via a central telephone service hosted by Newcastle University Stroke Research Group. The randomisation process will be conducted by a member of the clinical team in order to conceal group allocation from the local research support staff who will be assessing the outcome measures. Study intervention treatment: An NHS therapist will review participants twice weekly and agree a programme of upper limb activities for the participant to practice in addition to usual care. Intervention participants will be provided with a wrist worn movement detector (accelerometer) with an integrated vibrating-alert function and visual display feedback (the CueS device) to: 1. Constantly sense impaired limb movement 2. Gently vibrate to prompt more limb use if activity falls below a personalised threshold 3. Provide visual feedback on achievement towards the threshold 4. Provide patients and therapists with a twice weekly objective report of movement and prompts. Participants will wear the CueS device for four weeks. Study control treatment: An NHS therapist will review participants twice weekly and agree a programme of upper limb activities for the participant to practice whenever they choose in addition to usual care. Control participants will wear a ‘sham’ CueS device for four weeks which will monitor impaired limb activity but will not provide prompts, feedback or reports to guide therapy. Outcomes will be assessed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks following start of therapy. Assessments will be undertaken by research staff blinded to group allocation. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Feasibility outcome measures: 1. Recruitment is measured by enrolment of one patient per month from each study centre 2. Attrition rate is measured by the number of participants who consent to participate in the study and remain in the study until the end of the 8 week follow up assessment. 3. Participant adherence to the study is measured by participants wearing the wristband for >80% of the recommended hours 4. Report on the frequency of usual rehabilitation care received is measured by completion of daily log sheets 5. Success of outcome assessor blinding as measured by the number of participants who complete the 4 week outcome assessment without unblinding the outcome assessor to participant group allocation. 6. Report on serious adverse events related to the study as measured by completion of the SAE report forms 7. Completeness of data will be measured by completion of baseline, 4 week and 8 week assessments and number of complete days of accelerometer data from the wristband |
| Secondary outcome measures | The clinical outcomes will be recorded at Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks: 1. Stroke impairment and dependency, measured by the Modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 2. Upper limb pain and overall fatigue, measured by a numerical visual analogue scale (0-10) 3. Upper limb function, measured by the Action Research Arm Test 4. Real world upper limb activity, measured by the Motor Activity Log 5. Upper limb strength, measured by the Motricity Index 6. Objective measurement of affected upper limb activity, measured by a standard wrist worn accelerometer worn for three days after the 4 and 8 week outcome visits 7. Unilateral spatial neglect, measured by the star cancellation test |
| Overall study start date | 03/01/2016 |
| Completion date | 31/12/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 60; UK Sample Size: 60 |
| Total final enrolment | 33 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 years and over 2. More than 48 hours but less than 3 months post stroke onset 3. New reduced upper limb function on one side. 4. Able to provide individual consent to participate in the study. 5. Living within the community services catchment area of a participating study centre 6. Receiving at least twice weekly NHS therapy which is planned to continue for four weeks from the start of the intervention |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Severely reduced upper limb function which results in inability to lift the affected hand off the lap when sitting 2. Unable to follow the programme due to significant cognitive impairment or communication difficulties 3. Other significant upper limb impairment e.g. fixed contracture, frozen shoulder, severe arthritis, upper limb pain that inhibits participation in the programme 4. Diagnosis likely to interfere with rehabilitation e.g. registered blind, severe visual problems as a result of stroke, palliative treatment approach being provided 5. Unable to sense both Cues device vibratory prompts and visual display |
| Date of first enrolment | 24/05/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/08/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Ashington
NE63 9JJ
United Kingdom
Tyne and Wear
NE29 8NH
United Kingdom
Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 8PE
United Kingdom
Gateshead
NE9 6SX
United Kingdom
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
Research and Development Department
North Tyneside General Hospital
Rake Lane
North Sheilds
NE29 8NH
England
United Kingdom
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/01gfeyd95 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/03/2018 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication of the study protocol (by December 2016) and study results (by March 2018) to an open access peer reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 21/10/2016 | Yes | No | |
| Other publications | activity data | 01/07/2018 | 07/05/2021 | Yes | No |
| Results article | 01/08/2019 | 07/05/2021 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
07/05/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication references added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
24/10/2016: Publication reference added.
