Using video to improve arm and hand recovery after stroke or cervical spinal cord injury
Using the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) to Maximize Rehabilitation Research Impact: A Video-Based Observational Study
This project will use video recordings of outpatient occupational therapy sessions to see which therapist techniques help adults recover arm and hand function after stroke or cervical spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Trial ID | NCT07092293 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will record real outpatient occupational therapy sessions for adults with stroke or cervical spinal cord injury and code the content using the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS). The team will identify treatment elements such as activity types, therapist techniques, dosage, and patient responses. Analyses of these coded videos will be used to create a practical toolkit to help therapists deliver clearer, more consistent rehabilitation and to improve how future trials describe treatments. The project enrolls licensed occupational therapists and their eligible adult patients at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are licensed occupational therapists who treat at least one adult stroke or cervical SCI patient with upper-extremity sensorimotor impairment monthly and agree to be video recorded, along with their adult patients (aged 18+) who have an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or cervical SCI, an OT goal for arm/hand function, and at least one remaining OT session after enrollment.
Not a fit: Patients without upper-extremity sensorimotor goals, those under 18, people with non-cervical spinal cord injuries, or anyone unwilling to be video recorded are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the toolkit could help therapists deliver more effective, standardized arm and hand rehabilitation, potentially speeding recovery and improving everyday function.
How similar studies have performed: Video-based coding and treatment taxonomies have been used successfully in rehabilitation research, though applying the RTSS systematically to outpatient OT for stroke and cervical SCI is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Occupational Therapy Inclusion Criteria: * Must be a licensed OT practitioner (occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant), * The OT practitioner must treat at least one adult stroke or spinal cord injury patient with UE sensorimotor impairment per month * The OT practitioner must be willing to be video recorded while treating their enrolled stroke or SCI patients. Stroke Patients Inclusion Criteria: * Must have a medical diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke * Must be ≥ 18 years old * Must have at least one OT goal related to UE hemiparesis * Must have at least one remaining OT treatment session after enrollment * The patient's OT must be enrolled in the study. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Patients Inclusion Criteria: * Must have a medical diagnosis of cervical spinal cord injury * Must be ≥ 18 years old * Must have at least one OT goal related to UE sensorimotor impairment * Must have at least one remaining OT treatment session after enrollment * The patient's OT must be enrolled in the study.
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio
- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Lauren Wengerd, PhD
- Email: lauren.wengerd@osumc.edu
- Phone: 330-464-9171
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.