title: The DARS (Dopamine Augmented Rehabilitation in Stroke) trial: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of Co-careldopa treatment in addition to routine NHS occupational and physical therapy after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke has a huge impact, leaving more than a third of affected people with lasting disability and rehabilitation remains a cornerstone treatment in the National Health Service (NHS). Recovery of mobility and arm function post-stroke occurs through re-learning to use the affected body parts and/or learning to compensate with the lesser affected side. Promising evidence suggests that the addition of Co-careldopa to physical therapy and occupational therapy may improve the recovery of arm and leg movement and lead to improved function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dopamine Augmented Rehabilitation in Stroke (DARS) is a multi-centre double-blind, randomised, placebo, controlled clinical trial of Co-careldopa in addition to routine NHS occupational therapy and physical therapy as part of early stroke rehabilitation. Participants will be randomised on a 1:1 basis to either Co-careldopa or placebo. The primary objective of the trial is to determine whether the addition of six weeks of Co-careldopa treatment to rehabilitation therapy can improve the proportion of patients who can walk independently eight weeks post-randomisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DARS trial will provide evidence as to whether Co-careldopa, in addition to routine NHS occupational and physical therapy, leads to a greater recovery of motor function, a reduction in carer dependency and advance rehabilitation treatments for people with stroke.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN99643613 assigned on 4 December 2009.
authors.forename: Bipin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Bhakta
authors.affiliation: University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. s.hartley@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: J Alastair
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Couzens
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meads
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sackley
authors.forename: Marion F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Sharon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ruddock
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Farrin
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009313:National Health Programs; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018401:Sample Size; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine
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