What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common treatments for stroke rehabilitation, including telerehabilitation, generally have minimal side effects. However, patients may experience fatigue, muscle soreness, or discomfort due to physical exercises. Telerehabilitation specifically may pose challenges such as technical difficulties, reduced hands-on guidance, and potential feelings of isolation or frustration if technology fails. Overall, these side effects are typically mild and manageable, making telerehabilitation a viable option for many patients.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

The FDA has not specifically approved telerehabilitation as a treatment for stroke rehabilitation. However, telerehabilitation, which involves remote, live treatment sessions with interdisciplinary clinicians, is being studied as a promising approach to improve access and engagement in stroke rehabilitation. This method aims to address challenges such as travel distances and lack of structured communication among service providers, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

What other types of research exist?

Promising alternatives to telerehabilitation for stroke rehabilitation patients include: 1) Virtual Reality (VR) therapy, which provides immersive environments for motor and cognitive rehabilitation; 2) Wearable technology for real-time monitoring and feedback on physical activity and progress; 3) Mobile health applications that offer personalized exercise programs and remote monitoring; 4) Robotic-assisted therapy to aid in motor recovery and improve functional outcomes; 5) Home-based exercise programs with tele-coaching to ensure adherence and proper technique.

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Telerehabilitation for Stroke Rehabilitation (Telestroke Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Research Sponsored by Université de Sherbrooke

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Have had stroke event (haemorrhagic or ischemic)

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up through study completion (up to 5 years)

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial aims to help stroke survivors by providing rehabilitation services through live video sessions, known as telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation has been explored as a method to provide rehabilitation services to stroke patients, overcoming barriers such as access, cost, and compliance. This approach allows patients to receive care from home, making it easier for them to stick to their rehabilitation plans. The study will compare the outcomes and costs of telerehabilitation with traditional in-person care.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for Canadian stroke survivors who are safe to go home and have mild to moderate independence. They must speak French or English, have a caregiver at home, and have had a recent stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic). People with severe cognitive decline before the stroke cannot join.

What is being tested?

The study tests if telerehabilitation—remote rehab sessions via technology—with team care plans improves recovery compared to usual care after a stroke. It involves 220 patients receiving this new approach versus 110 getting standard treatment.

What are the potential side effects?

Since the intervention focuses on rehabilitation through technology rather than medication, side effects may include discomfort with tech use or issues related to remote communication rather than physical drug-related side effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I have had a stroke before.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ through study completion (up to 5 years)

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~through study completion (up to 5 years)

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and through study completion (up to 5 years) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Change in patient adherence to stroke rehabilitation plan

Patient adherence to stroke rehabilitation plan (Patient journal)

Patient adherence to stroke rehabilitation plan (Professional perception)

Secondary study objectives

Adverse events

Change in depression state

Change in functional recovery and independence

+9 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: TelerehabilitationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

A mix of home or rehabilitation center visits, telerehabilitation and interprofessional shared decision making process.

Group II: ControlExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Usual rehabilitation care (no telerehabilitation, interdisciplinary meetings not systematically organized and/or not involving a complete team of professionals)

0 / 1Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Stroke rehabilitation treatments aim to restore function and improve quality of life by leveraging neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. Common treatments include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, which focus on repetitive, task-specific exercises to enhance motor skills, cognitive function, and communication abilities. Telerehabilitation, which involves remote, live treatment sessions with interdisciplinary clinicians, enhances access to these therapies by overcoming geographical barriers and increasing patient engagement. This approach is crucial for stroke rehabilitation patients as it ensures continuity of care, promotes adherence to rehabilitation protocols, and facilitates personalized treatment plans, ultimately leading to better recovery outcomes.

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