Project team
Helen Odell-Miller
Emeritus Professor
Partnering with health tech companies, CIMTR has mapped out apps for building and testing, that may accelerate and improve recovery of hand and arm function, attention and executive function.
These apps may also facilitate more independent, home-based exercises for brain injury survivors, whilst gathering data on app use and level progression and linking with clinicians to enable quick and easy contact to ensure adequate support.
Two case studies from a small randomized controlled trial illustrate how an exercise protocol for arm and hand rehabilitation following stroke can be modified and adapted for home delivery.
Qualitative, quantitative and observational data on participants‘ outcomes and engagement with six weeks of bi-weekly exercises showed that for the less impaired participant with fewer complex health needs outcomes were significantly better, particularly pinch grip (1 peg in 20 seconds to 15/120).
The second participant improved on the water pouring task from the Action Research Arm test, and was able to perform this more than 30 seconds faster (baseline: 44 seconds, post-intervention: 13.16), which implies that they would be more able to perform similar tasks in their activities of daily living with greater dexterity and therefore gain more independence and motivation to perform such tasks. Greater use of the affected hand would then lead to further improvement in function, independence and quality of life.
Further research is needed that gathers data over a more prolonged period to follow up on treatment effects and carry-over.
Street, A. J., Zhang, J., Pethers, S., Wiffen, L., Bond, K. and Palmer, H. (2020) 'Neurologic music therapy in acute stroke rehabilitation: could it be feasible and helpful', Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 27(7), pp. 541-552. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2020.1729585
Street, A. J., Fachner, J. and Magee, W. L. (2019) 'Upper limb rehabilitation in stroke using neurologic music therapy: two contrasting case studies to inform on treatment delivery and patient suitability', Nordic Journal of Music Therapy. Available at: https://doi.org/10/1080.08098131.2019.1606848
Street, A. J., Magee, W. L., Bateman, A., Parker, M., Odell-Miller, H. and Fachner, J. (2017) 'Home-based neurologic music therapy for arm hemiparesis following stroke: results from a pilot, feasibility randomized controlled trial', Clinical Rehabilitation, 32(1), pp. 18-28. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215517717060
Street, A. J., Magee, W. L., Odell-Miller, H., Bateman. A. and Fachner, J. C. (2015) 'Home-based Neurologic Music Therapy for Upper Limb Rehabilitation with Stroke Patients at Community Rehabilitation Stage - a Feasibility Study Protocol', Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, pp. 480. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00480
Emeritus Professor
