title: Feasibility of high-repetition, task-specific training for individuals with upper-extremity paresis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. We investigated the feasibility of delivering an individualized, progressive, high-repetition upper-extremity (UE) task-specific training protocol for people with stroke in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. METHOD. Fifteen patients with UE paresis participated in this study. Task-specific UE training was scheduled for 60 min/day, 4 days/wk, during occupational therapy for the duration of a participant's inpatient stay. During each session, participants were challenged to complete ≥300 repetitions of various tasks. RESULTS. Participants averaged 289 repetitions/session, spending 47 of 60 min in active training. Participants improved on impairment and activity level outcome measures. CONCLUSION. People with stroke in an inpatient setting can achieve hundreds of repetitions of task-specific training in 1-hr sessions. As expected, all participants improved on functional outcome measures. Future studies are needed to determine whether this high-repetition training program results in better outcomes than current UE interventions.
authors.affiliation: Kimberly J. Waddell, MS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Kimberly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.affiliation: Rebecca L. Birkenmeier, OTD, OTR/L, is Research Assistant Professor, Program in Occupational Therapy, Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Birkenmeier
authors.affiliation: Jennifer L. Moore, PT, DHS, NCS, is Clinical Therapy Lead and Physical Therapist, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: T. George Hornby, PhD, PT, is Research Scientist, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, and Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: T George
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Hornby
authors.affiliation: Catherine E. Lang, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor, Program in Physical Therapy, Program in Occupational Therapy, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, Campus Box 8502, St. Louis, MO 63108-2212; langc@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation