Stroke Motor Recovery for the Hand and Fingers

What this study is about

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two rehabilitation methods to improve finger movements in people who have had a stroke. The main question it aims to answer is which of these two training methods leads to the most improvement: 1. Teaching people to reach their movement goals using any strategies they like. 2. Teaching people to improve their movement technique and avoid compensatory strategies. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The second goal is to find out who might benefit more from each method. Some people with stroke may rely on compensatory strategies due to severe impairment, while others with milder strokes might benefit more from techniques that enhance movement quality. The third goal is to take pictures of the brain to see how it changes with each method. This will help researchers understand how the brain adapts after a stroke and could lead to treatments that target the brain directly. Participants will: 1. Visit the lab for clinical and research assessments on weeks 1, 4, 5, and 15. 2. Complete 10 days of piano training. 3. Undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans twice, once in week 1 and once in week 4.

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• Over 18 years of age
• Diagnosis of first time unilateral ischemic or hemorrhagic
• Stroke occurrence: > 6 months and < 2 years
• Able to perform active finger movements (Chedoke-McMaster (CM) Impairment Inventory of the Hand, Stage ≥ 3)

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• History of developmental, neurological, or major psychiatric disorders
• Cognitive deficits (< 23/30 Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
• Apraxia (<2SD mean Waterloo Apraxia test)
• Neglect (> 40/100, Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure)
• Cerebellar stroke
• Musculoskeletal injury affecting motor performance
• Inability to sit in a chair and perform exercises for sustained periods
• Contraindications to MRI

Where this trial is running

• University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Laval, Quebec, Canada
• University Institute for Physical Impairment Rehabilitation of Montreal (IURDPM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Jewish General Hopsital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Who to contact

Joyce L Chen, PhD · 416-946-5394 · JOYCELYNN.CHEN@UTORONTO.CA

It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT06604143.