Home-based Reach-to-Grasp training for people after stroke is feasible: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Objective:To determine feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of home-based Reach-to-Grasp training after stroke.Design:single-blind parallel group RCT.Participants:Residual arm deficit less than 12 months post-stroke.Interventions:Reach-to-Grasp training in 14 one-hour therapist’s visits over 6 weeks, plus one hour self-practice per day (total 56 hours). Control: Usual care.Main Measures:Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), pre-randomisation, 7, 12, 24 weeks post-randomisation.Results:Forty-seven participants (Reach-to-Grasp=24, usual care=23) were randomised over 17 months. Reach-to-Grasp participants received a median (IQR) 14 (13,14) visits, and performed 157 (96,211) repetitions per visit; plus 30 minutes (22,45) self-practice per day. Usual care participants received 10.5 (5,14) therapist visits, comprising 38.6 (30,45) minutes of arm therapy with 16 (6,24) repetitions of functional tasks per visit. Median ARAT scores in the reach-to-grasp group were 8.5 (3.0...