Impact of short term focal vibration intervention on upper extremities in chronic stroke

Research Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of a novel wearable focal vibration device in patients with stroke.

Design: Pre-post intervention trial

Setting: College of Allied Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Participants: Convenience sample of five chronic stroke participants.

Interventions: Focal vibration for 10 minutes at the biceps, triceps, wrist flexors and proximal and distal wrist extensors.

Main Outcome Measures: Fugl-Meyer upper extremity (FMA-UE), Chedoke Arm-Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI-7), grip strength, and qualitative survey.

Results: FMA-UE scores either increased or remained constant with a mean increase of 0.67. CAHAI-7 scores increased by a mean of 3.33. Grip strength decreased by an insignificant amount. Participants noted the device was comfortable and led to more normal tone in the upper extremity.

Conclusions: Based on initial results, short-term focal vibration intervention demonstrates promise for lowering spasticity and increasing function. Grip strength may have decreased due to lower levels of abnormal tone. Future studies will include a measure of spasticity since this device appears to assist with tone. Long-term home use of the device where the patient receives focal vibration a few days a week for several weeks may assist with tone, pain, and function.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no disclosures.