NCT01993563.

Study name	Graded motor imagery for patients within a year after stroke
Methods	Interventional (clinical trial)
Participants	Patients after stroke
Interventions	Experimental group: graded MI program includes three steps: implicit MI (IMI); explicit MI (EMI); mirror box therapy (MT) IMI included a training based on hand laterality discrimination tasks. During these tasks 60 pictures of right and left hands are projected randomly on a 15" screen. Patients are asked to choose whether the images seen are right or left and therefore to click respectively the right or the left button on a mouse EMI training consists of imagining a movement without actual performing it. It will be introduced during IMI's last 2 sessions and gradually enhanced increasing the complexity of motor skills to be imagined. The therapist shows or explains in detail the movements the patient has to mentally rehearse MT treatments will start with simply watching the unaffected hand in the mirror and increased toward functional movement. When possible, gentle movement with the affected hand will be encouraged behind the reflecting part of the mirror Control group: patients will undergo to a standard treatment, that is thought to be the best option for that specific patient. In this hospital, treatment options include motor training, functional training, occupational therapy, bilateral arm training or motor treatment using virtual reality devices
Outcomes	Change in Wolf's Motor Function Test Change in Fugl Meyer Assessment Scale for upper extremity Change in Functional Independence Measure Change in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Starting date	September 2014
Contact information	andrea.turolla@ospedalesancamillo.net/
Notes