Clinical Application of Cross-education During Stroke Rehabilitation

Clinical Application of Cross-education During Stroke Rehabilitation

Based on the current state of knowledge and gaps in the literature we will conduct an intervention study to explore novel treatment and rehabilitation of patients at Royal University Hospital (RUH) with motor deficits following stroke. This project has the following objectives:

1. To determine if cross-education, in addition to standard rehabilitation leads to better recovery of upper limb function for stroke patients with hemiparesis.
2. To incorporate functional brain activation as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural mechanisms associated with changes in motor function of the paretic arm post-stroke.
3. To use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography to measure connectivity and examine the extent to which white matter tract thickness correlates with preserved motor output in patients post-stroke.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• within 18 months of stroke recovery
• medically stable
• ambulatory
• have moderate to severe upper limb hemiparesis as diagnosed by clinicians
• Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• significant cognitive impairment or aphasia affecting understanding, as assessed by clinician
• severe upper limb spasticity preventing any movement of the proximal arm and shoulder
• diagnosis of hemorrhagic or bilateral stroke
• history of other severe upper limb musculoskeletal injury
• other neurological diseases
• intracranial metal clips or cardiac pacemaker, or anything that would preclude an MRI
• Any condition that would preclude the participant's ability to attend follow-up visits in the opinion of the Investigator