Understanding why stroke survivors don't use their affected arm
Official title: Mechanistic and neuroanatomic bases of disparity between arm capacity and use in stroke
Funded at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network · NIH-11096001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some stroke survivors can move their affected arm but don’t use it, and it aims to understand the reasons behind this so that better rehabilitation methods can be developed to help them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein Healthcare Network NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $970,394 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD104637-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11096001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a stroke and exhibit reduced use of one arm despite having the capacity to use it.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have severe disabilities or those who do not have the capacity to use their affected arm may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why many stroke survivors do not use their affected arm despite having the physical ability to do so. It focuses on the disparity between arm capacity and actual use, known as Use/Capacity Disparity (UCD). The study will assess various factors, including sensory-motor processing and cognitive aspects, through a series of tests on stroke patients. By identifying the underlying mechanisms of UCD, the research aims to inform targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation techniques that enhance arm use in stroke survivors, thereby improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms of Use/Capacity Disparity have not been extensively studied, related research in neuro-rehabilitation has shown promise in understanding and improving arm function post-stroke.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buxbaum, Laurel J — Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
- Study coordinator: Buxbaum, Laurel J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Stroke prevention with hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria
A multinational, patient-facing study tests whether hydroxyurea can safely prevent first strokes in Nigerian children with sickle cell anemia.
-
Music-powered tools to boost blood pressure and stroke prevention for Nigerian youth and their older caregivers
This project uses popular music to help Nigerian youths and their older family members start and stick to blood pressure and stroke prevention habits.
-
Determinants of Post-Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery
A large, multi-site effort aims to understand why some stroke survivors develop long-term cognitive problems and dementia, and how vascular health and pre-existing brain changes influence recovery.
-
LRP1 controls NSC movement and stroke recovery
This NIH grant studies how a brain receptor called LRP1 helps neural stem cells move to stroke injuries and support recovery in adults.
-
BBB Dysfunction after Stroke and Risk for Dementia
A study at Stanford will look at whether inflammation after a stroke leads to leaky blood vessels and later dementia, by following stroke survivors and comparing them with people without stroke.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
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.