Unimanual vs. Bimanual Motor Skill Learning After Stroke
Official title: Comparison of Unimanual Versus Bimanual Motor Skill Learning (Proximal and Distal) After Stroke by Means of Robotics (REA²Plan® and Dextrain®) and Multimodal Brain Imaging (VLSM, DTI, NODDI, DIAMOND)
Run by University Hospital of Mont-Godinne · NCT07826832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The study tests whether people with acute or chronic stroke, as well as healthy controls, can learn and remember a complex motor task using one hand or both, with robotic devices REAplan and Dextrain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital of Mont-Godinne Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Yvoir, Namur) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 18, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2031 |
| Registry record updated | September 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07826832 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 40-90 with a single ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, in acute (2–21 days) or chronic (>6 months) stages, able to follow study procedures.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with severe arm paralysis preventing task participation or with significant aphasia/cognitive deficits may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study compares unimanual and bimanual motor learning in acute and chronic stroke patients and healthy controls over three days, using robotics and multimodal brain imaging to identify neural substrates of motor control. Participants practice tasks on the REAplan robotic system and the Dextrain device, in both one- and two-arm versions, with assessments of motor, sensory, and cognitive function. The trial aims to determine if bimanual training offers advantages for proximal and distal upper-limb recovery and to characterize brain activity associated with each learning mode. Eligible participants include adults aged 40-90 with a single stroke (acute, subacute, or chronic) and similarly aged healthy controls, with imaging safety criteria in place.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could inform personalized rehabilitation strategies that optimize two-arm training to improve upper-limb recovery after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in robotic and multisite motor rehabilitation has shown promise for motor learning post-stroke, though direct head-to-head unimanual versus bimanual comparisons with multimodal imaging are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
STROKE PATIENTS Inclusion Criteria: * acute stroke (between day 2 and day 21 post-stroke) or chronic stroke (\>6 mois) * aged 40-90 years * with a single demonstrated stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) lesion on brain imaging Exclusion Criteria: * \[for acute paitents\] "classical" contre-indication to MRI (non-MR-compatible pacemaker, pregnancy, non-MR-compatible implanted devices, claustrophobia, etc ...) * difficulty in understanding or executing commands * drug/alcohol abuse * severe aphasia/cognitive deficits interfering with study * inability to complete the tasks (i.e. full paralysis of the arm) * multiple stroke/dementia/psychiatric condition HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS Inclusion Criteria: * 40-90 years Exclusion Criteria: * "classical" contre-indication to MRI (non-MR-compatible pacemaker, pregnancy, non-MR-compatible implanted devices, claustrophobia, etc ...) * medical history with a previous stroke/relevant neurological deficit * drug/alcohol abuse * psychiatric condition/dementia * having already used the robotic devices
Where it's running
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CHU UCL Namur
Yvoir, Namur, Belgium Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Yves Vandermeeren, MD, PhD — UCLouvain IoNS
- Study coordinator: Yves Vandermeeren, MD, PhD
- Email: yves.vandermereen@uclouvain.be
- Phone: +32 (0)81 42 33 21
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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A nurse-led program called BEST CARE ICTUS_HC is tested in hospitals without Stroke Units to see if it reduces stroke complications and helps recovery after an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.