TABLE I.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

18 to 80 years of age

History of stroke affecting the hand

Between 1–10 weeks post-stroke

Upper extremity weakness, defined as score of 15–62 (out of 66) on the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Test

Able to perform at least 3 blocks on the Box and Blocks Test (BBT) but not greater than 80% of the score of the non-affected hand on the BBT

No other active major neurological disease other than stroke

Absence of severe pain in the stroke-affected upper extremity - score ≤ 3 on Visual Analog Pain scale

Absence of severe spasticity or contractures at the affected upper extremity (score <4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale)

Absence of severe aphasia

Absence of severe reduction in level of consciousness

Absence of severe sensory / proprioception deficit at the affected upper extremity (score of 0 in all categories of the Fugl-Meyer Sensory Examination)

Not currently pregnant

No active major psychiatric problems, or neurological/orthopedic problems affecting the stroke affected upper extremity

No difficulty in understanding or complying with instructions given by the experimenter

Able to perform the experimental task