Understanding shoulder and elbow recovery after stroke
Defining the Neurological Substrates of Proximal Upper Extremity Motor Control and Recovery After Stroke
This project sees if a focused, intensive therapy can improve shoulder and elbow control for people who have arm weakness after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322640 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have detailed tests of how well you can move your shoulder and elbow and then receive a period of targeted, high‑intensity training focused just on those movements. Researchers will use brain imaging and physiology measures to link your movement problems to damage in the corticospinal tract and other pathways. The therapy involves repeated, guided practice of shoulder and elbow tasks over multiple sessions to retrain coordination and control. Movement tests and brain scans will be repeated before and after therapy to look for improvements in function and corresponding changes in brain anatomy or physiology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are stroke survivors with weakness or poor control of the proximal arm (shoulder and elbow) who are medically stable and able to take part in intensive therapy sessions.
Not a fit: People without proximal upper‑limb weakness, those who cannot tolerate repeated therapy visits, or those with conditions preventing MRI or neurophysiology testing are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve arm strength and coordination and guide more effective, targeted rehabilitation after stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Previous rehabilitation studies have improved arm function after stroke and prior work suggests motor deficits map to specific brain pathways, but applying very high‑dose, targeted training to proximal control with linked brain measures is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, David J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lin, David J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.