Effect of home task-practice compliance in real-world hand use in stroke survivors

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The objective of the parent grant (R01 HD094731) is to determine if combining TheraBracelet with hand task practice is superior to hand task practice alone for recovery of hand function post-stroke in an adequately powered study. The parent grant Aim 1 focuses on determining the effect of TheraBracelet on hand functional recovery as measured by a standardized motor capacity assessment. This diversity supplement will provide a new insight into the effect of stroke survivors’ behavior at home on hand functional recovery. Specifically, Aim 1 of this diversity supplement will determine the effect of participants’ compliance to the home exercise program on paretic hand use in daily living measured via a wearable accelerometer sensor. Aim 2 will explore personal factors affecting the level of compliance to the home exercise program. This research is expected to unveil the importance of stroke survivors’ activity at home for motor recovery which is often overlooked in rehabilitation services and research. The new knowledge to be obtained from this work will provide a critical groundwork to develop personalized behavioral coaching to enhance the home exercise program compliance, thereby improving motor recovery. Most importantly, this award will foster the underrepresented minority candidate (Mr. Ja’Quann Gallant) as a career DPT/PhD researcher. The training activities will focus on developing new research skills for Mr. Gallant to perform the supplement research and begin his research career. Specifically, Mr. Gallant will (1) enhance the overall knowledge of the neurorehabilitation research field, (2) acquire proficiency in quantifying, analyzing, and interpreting wearable sensor data and clinical/behavioral data, and (3) develop a successful application for a DPT/PhD program. Therefore, this supplement award will contribute to enhancing diversity in the biomedical workforce, as only 7% of doctoral degree recipients in science and engineering disciplines were African American, whereas African Americans make up 12% of the total US population between the ages of 18-74 according to NSF report.