Early versus later extra physiotherapy compared with usual care to improve arm function after stroke
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN32522341 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN32522341 |
| Protocol serial number | 3 |
| Sponsor | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Funder | Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust |
- Submission date
- 09/08/2018
- Registration date
- 13/08/2018
- Last edited
- 13/08/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Many stroke survivors have difficulty using their arm or hand, which can affect them and their carers in many different ways. Many people need rehabilitation to improve arm function after a stroke. We already know that therapy that promotes using the affected arm in daily activities is most likely to help. A growing number of studies suggest that more therapy is needed to improve arm function after stroke than what is provided routinely. Stroke survivors, carers and health care professionals have indicated that further research on arm rehabilitation is a top priority.
More research is needed into the amount of extra arm therapy is required to make a difference, along with when is best to give this extra arm therapy. This study aims to look at the effectiveness of a new arm rehabilitation programme for people who have difficulties using their arm or hand after a recent stroke.
Who can participate?
Adults who have had a stroke in the previous 3 weeks and have difficulty using their arm and/or hand as a result of their stroke
What does the study involve?
All participants will receive the usual care and will be randomised into 3 groups:
1. Extra arm physiotherapy early after stroke (within 3 weeks after stroke) and usual care (early group)
2. Extra arm physiotherapy later after stroke (starting 3 months after stroke) and usual care (later group)
3. Usual care only (control group)
For all participants, the intervention will last for a total of 27 hours over 6 weeks. This will be 45 minutes per day, divided depending on each participant's tolerance (e.g. 15 minutes 3 times per day), 6 days per week over 6 weeks.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefit to participants is that those in the groups allocated to receive extra arm physiotherapy may see more improvement in their arm/hand function as a result; however, this cannot be guaranteed. The only risks associated with this study are standard risks associated with arm physiotherapy. The extra amount of arm physiotherapy may lead to tiredness or soreness during or after therapy; however, this should only be short-lived.
Where is the study run from?
Glasgow Caledonian University and includes 5 sites across NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde in the UK, where participants will be recruited from.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2013 to August 2018
Who is funding the study?
The Charitable Trust of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Frederike van Wijck
frederike.vanwijck@gcu.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow
G4 0BA
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-0855-799X |
|---|---|
| Phone | +441413318967 |
| Frederike.vanWijck@gcu.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional multi-centre single-blinded three-armed exploratory randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Early VERsus Later Augmented Physiotherapy compared with usual upper limb physiotherapy: an exploratory randomised controlled trial of arm function after stroke |
| Study acronym | EVERLAP |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of conducting a definitive three-arm randomised controlled trial of arm physiotherapy after stroke, and to determine its methodology, size and cost. |
| Ethics approval(s) | West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 5, 26/11/2014, 14/WS/1136 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Stroke |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomly allocated into 3 groups. The Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit (UKCRC-registered, no. 16) provides a telephone randomisation service for this study. Participants are allocated to groups in equal numbers, minimised by baseline severity based on ARAT scores (severe: 0 ≤ ARAT ≤ 3; moderate: 4 ≤ ARAT ≤ 28; mild: 29 ≤ ARAT ≤ 56) 17. Randomisation takes place after baseline assessments, by telephone to an interactive voice response system to conceal future allocations. A minimisation schedule ensures equal allocation to each group within each stratum. At randomisation, each participant is allocated a unique participant code which is used to identify their study data. Participants’ personal data are not used in any study documentation or study data. All 3 groups will receive usual arm physiotherapy, and 2 of the 3 groups will receive additional, augmented arm physiotherapy delivered at different time points after stroke. The 3 groups will receive the following treatment: 1. The early group will receive early intervention treatment, in addition to usual arm physiotherapy. Participants in the early group will receive augmented arm physiotherapy, involving tailored strategies primarily aimed at improving functional activity of the affected arm and hand within 3 weeks after stroke. Therefore, these participants receive an extra 27 hours of physiotherapy over 6 weeks, with each session lasting for 45 minutes per day (divided depending on individual tolerance, e.g. 15 minutes, 3 times per day), 6 days per week, over a period of 6 weeks. To enhance self-management, research physiotherapists will provide participants with a choice of a home upper limb activity DVD, a workbook, or a novel mobile phone/tablet reminder service to remind participants to increase upper limb activity. 2. The later group will receive late intervention treatment, in addition to usual arm physiotherapy. Participants in the later group will receive the same treatment as the early group; however instead, they will receive this 3 months after their stroke. 3. The control group will receive usual arm physiotherapy only, which consists of routine interventions delivered after a stroke, including those targeting positioning, sensory awareness, pain, hypertonia, and shoulder complications, along with function. Participants in the control group will not be offered the DVD/workbook/mobile phone reminder service Participants in all 3 groups will be assessed at 4 timepoints - the baseline (3 weeks after stroke), 9 weeks, 16 weeks and at the follow-up (24 weeks). This includes assessments before and after the intervention for the early and later intervention groups. All 3 groups will be assessed at these same 4 timepoints to explore immediate and longer term intervention effects and compare recovery curves. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Secondary outcome measures 1-12 will be assessed at the baseline (3 weeks after stroke), 9 weeks, 16 weeks and at the follow-up (24 weeks): |
| Completion date | 17/08/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 75 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged at least 18 years 2. Diagnosis of stroke, as confirmed by CT/MRI scans 3. Stoke-related upper limb impairment (score 0-56 on the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)) 4. Capable of undertaking the allocated physiotherapy intervention and adhering to the study protocol, as per judgement of the treating clinician 5. Able to provide informed consent to participate in the study 6. Living within the community services catchment area of a participating study centre |
| Key exclusion criteria | Any factors likely to interfere with participation in the intervention, including: 1. Medically unstable 2. Severe cognitive/communication impairment (e.g. unable to follow a 2 step command) 3. Severe depression/anxiety 4. Other upper limb impairment: 4.1. Fixed contracture 4.2. Frozen shoulder 4.3. Severe arthritis 4.4. Upper limb pain that inhibits participation 5. Registered blind 6. Terminal cancer |
| Date of first enrolment | 20/04/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 14/12/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
Study participating centres
Airdrie
ML6 0JS
United Kingdom
East Kilbride
G75 8RG
United Kingdom
Wishaw
ML2 0DP
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G4 0SF
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G11 6NT
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G0 4BA
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
