Trial results for a study investigating the use of custom wearable technology to increase arm activity during early recovery from Stroke were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-16. The study reported a mean Ratio of Average Activity Duration (RAAD) of 1.223 for survivors of stroke in early stages of recovery.
Background
Stroke often leads to impaired motor function, particularly in the upper extremities, resulting in reduced use of the affected arm. This non-use can hinder recovery and functional independence. Current rehabilitation efforts often face challenges in maintaining consistent therapeutic exercise outside of clinical settings. The development of low-cost, wearable technology offers a potential solution to encourage and monitor activity during idle time, aiming to augment rehabilitation without significantly increasing clinician workload. This approach is relevant to public health by addressing a crucial problem in physical rehabilitation.
Trial design
This completed study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 42 participants with Stroke. The trial evaluated the feasibility of using custom wearable technology and associated procedures. The intervention aimed to increase activity of the more-involved upper extremity during the earliest stages of recovery from stroke by encouraging therapeutic exercise during idle-time. The study focused on conditions related to Stroke and Exercise, exploring how technology could motivate and monitor activity.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements for survivors of stroke in early stages of recovery:
- The Ratio of Average Activity Duration (RAAD) had a mean of 1.223 with a Standard Deviation of 0.63.
- The System Usability Scale showed a mean of 80.1 with a Standard Deviation of 13.8, and another measurement reported a mean of 83.3 with a Standard Deviation of 15.2.
- The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) had multiple measurements, including means of 4.9 (SD 1.3), 5.4 (SD 1.4), 6.2 (SD 0.9), 6.0 (SD 0.9), 5.8 (SD 1.2), and 2.8 (SD 1.0).
- The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction With Technology (QUEST) reported means of 4.52 (SD 0.46) and 4.5 (SD 0.5).
What this means
The posted results suggest that custom wearable technology can be a feasible tool for encouraging arm activity in individuals recovering from stroke. A mean Ratio of Average Activity Duration (RAAD) of 1.223 indicates that participants were, on average, more active with their affected arm during idle times when using the technology. The System Usability Scale scores, with means of 80.1 and 83.3, suggest a high level of usability and acceptance of the technology by the participants. Similarly, the various Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction With Technology scores generally indicate positive motivation and satisfaction with the device. These findings support the potential for such low-cost technology to enhance rehabilitation efforts by promoting consistent, self-directed exercise, thereby potentially improving recovery outcomes for stroke patients without significantly increasing the burden on clinicians.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05900999, titled "Addressing Arm Non-use by Encouraging Idle-time Activity During Early Recovery From Stroke", were posted on 2026-01-16 on clinicaltrials.gov.