New multi-centre rehabilitation trial for stroke patients needs volunteers

The UPLIFT multi-centre research project is evaluating a new model of stroke rehabilitation and needs more trial volunteers.

Western Australia's Perron Institute is a partner in the trial which is evaluating intensive communication and combined arm training for people who have had a stroke within the past 3 to 24 months.

There are also trial centres in Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville and Adelaide

Difficulties with communication and arm movement can persist long-term for many people after experiencing a stroke and this can cause difficulties with everyday tasks such as chatting, eating, dressing, bathing, shopping, texting, reading and asking for help.

"It is thought that communication and arm movement share common pathways in the brain," said University of Melbourne physiotherapist and Coordinating Principal Investigator of the UPLIFT trial Associate Professor Kate Hayward. "The aim is to recruit up to 160 patients across sites in four Australian states."

Principal Investigator, neurophysiotherapist Claire Tucak, who is based at the Perron Institute in Perth/Nedlands, said participants complete some assessments before starting training to measure their current level of communication and arm function.

"Once this is determined, those with mild to moderate disability are assigned to at-home telerehabilitation training."

Volunteers with more severe limitation of communication or arm movement as a result of a stroke have supervised, in-person training at the Perron Institute clinic or one of the other centres except for those in Adelaide where all the training is through telehealth.

Training sessions run for either two or four hours per day, five days per week for four weeks.

If you would like to participate and live in or near one of the four participating cities email: uplift-trial@unimelb.edu.au