Stroke survivors needed for UQ study

People who have had a stroke affecting their arm are needed for a University of Queensland study.

The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a new form of therapy that when applied to an arm muscle retrains the arm to reach.

The therapy is designed to promote arm recovery in stroke survivors with some movement but little or no use of their arm.

Researcher Ruth Barker from UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said the study would also determine the extent to which any improvements in arm function were the result of changes in pathways to the brain.

“It is hypothesised that this therapy will lead to improvements in arm strength and ability to reach and will allow stoke survivors to work independently and intensively to drive their own recovery,” Ms Barker said.

Ms Barker said the project outcomes would provide substantial benefits for all stroke survivors, particularly those who had a severe stroke or had limited access to rehabilitation services.

The research will also be used to provide evidence for physiotherapy interventions in stroke rehabilitation.

Participants must live in Brisbane and have had a stroke causing them to only have a small amount of movement in their arm and an inability to reach.

They will receive 12 therapy sessions in their home and will be required to attend UQ St Lucia for tests on three difference occasions over a four month period.

People interested in participating should contact Ruth Barker on telephone 07 3365 4567 or email r.barker@shrs.uq.edu.au

Media: For further information, contact Ruth Barker (telephone 07 3365 4567, email r.barker@shrs.uq.edu.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619).