Abstract

Background Synergy is an outcome of multiple muscles acting in a synchronized pattern, controlled by the central nervous system. After brain insult, a set of deviated movement pattern emerges in the affected limb. The methods to train synchronization of muscles may diminish the deviated movement augmenting neuromotor control. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a synergy-based motor therapy (SBMT) protocol for the paretic upper limb in poststroke subjects. Further, the feasibility and effectiveness of the program was evaluated. . Methods The design was Pretest-posttest single-group assessor-blinded trial. Department of occupational therapy of a national institute for persons with physical disabilities was the study site. There were 40 study subjects (23 men, ranging from 40 to 60 years, 18 subjects with hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident, and > 6 months after the accident) exhibiting motor paresis of half side of the body. SBMT is a stage-specific regime based on the linkage between the deviated and usual muscle action. SBMT items were selected considering the strength and magnitude of the deviated motor components. The movement linkages were utilized to dissociate strong coupled components; for instance, forearm pronation-supination with elbow 90-degree flexion. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (upper extremity) (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and Barthel Index (BI) were applied to quantify the motor status, motor functional ability of the upper extremity, and self-care activities, respectively. Results All the enrolled subjects could perform their corresponding SBMT sessions. Posttreatment, FMA-UE improved significantly ( p < 0.001) from mean of 26.30 (standard deviation [SD] 15.02) to 35.20 (SD 17.64). Similarly, the WMFT both time (in seconds) and quality also positively improved significantly ( p < .001) from mean of 76.77 (SD 54.73) to 64.07 (SD 56.99) and 1.34 (SD 1.06) to 1.87 (SD 1.34), respectively. BI improved from 79.88 (SD 17.07) to 92.62 (SD 21.2) after the intervention ( p < 0.001). Conclusion SBMT protocol was a feasible and effective intervention to facilitate motor function components in chronic hemiparetic subjects. The regime could be considered as a potential intervention for stroke rehabilitation. Further trials and use of sophisticated measures are recommended to authenticate the outcome of this investigation. Clinical Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry of India as CTRI/2017/10/010162 on October 23, 2017 (retrospectively).