Additional, Mechanized Upper Limb Self-Rehabilitation in Patients With Subacute Stroke: The REM-AVC Randomized Trial

Additional therapy may improve poststroke outcomes. Self-rehabilitation is a useful means to increase rehabilitation time. Mechanized systems are usual means to extend time for motor training. The primary aim was to compare the effects of self-rehabilitation using a mechanized device with control self-exercises on upper extremity impairment in patients with stroke.

This trial concluded that in patients with moderate-to-severe impairment in the subacute phase of stroke, the purchase and use of complex devices to provide additional upper limb training may not be necessary: simply educating patients to regularly move and stretch their limbs appears sufficient. (Ref: Stroke Journal, June 2021)