KU ASTRA Program

We need your help with
On-going Projects

We have a number of research studies that are in need of participants!
These are described below – please contact us for more information.

Treating edema:  Do you have swelling in your hand?  Researchers at KUMC are investigating if a home-based treatment helps to decrease swelling in hands after stroke.  This treatment involves the use of a compression device powered by air, also known as pneumatic compression.  You will use the compression device in your home everyday for 1 hour for 8 weeks.

Blood Flow in the Legs:  This pilot study is investigating whether there is hardening of the arteries in the weaker leg of individuals with chronic stroke. This study involves one 2-hour session at KU Medical Center, with some walking and function tests followed by a vascular ultrasound study. We are looking for people at least 2 years after stroke with weakness in one leg.

Fatigue following stroke:  Fatigue after stroke is commonly neglected, despite the fact that many stroke survivors complain about fatigue problems. The purpose of this study is to help understand the nature of fatigue after stroke, and to explore what factors might contribute to this problem.  We are enrolling people who had a stroke in the last 6 months to 5 years, and who are able to exercise in a seated position.

One Leg at a Time:  Single Limb Exercise and Blood Flow in Stroke:  The purpose of the study is to determine if single limb exercise training can improve blood flow to the weaker leg and aerobic fitness.  Individuals at least six months post-stroke without diabetes are being enrolled in the 6-week study.  All exercise sessions are at KU Medical Center and individuals enrolled in the study will exercise 3 times per week for 4 weeks using only the weaker leg. 

Self-Care TALK to Promote Spouse Caregiver Health:  In this study, we’re testing the benefits of a program for caregiver health. Family caregivers who are 55 years and older and currently living with a spouse or partner who had a first-ever stroke between 6 months and 3 years ago are invited to enroll. Study participation requires at least 3 telephone visits. In addition, half of the study participants also receive 6 weekly telephone calls from a nurse practitioner. Each phone conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on different aspects of the family caregiver's health.

Robot-Aided Training for Stroke Rehabilitation:  The purpose of this study is to develop a motor training program for functional recovery of the affected arm in chronic stroke patients.  Participants will undergo robot-aided motor training for affected upper limb with or without enhancements such as additional sensory inputs. The enhanced sensory input may help the subjects in getting better sensory feedback from the motor training. All participants will be trained for a total of six weeks (three times per week). There will be pre- and post-training assessments as well as a follow-up assessment, four months after the training.

Improving balance deficits following a stroke: We are seeking volunteers with a history of stroke and associated balance problems to participate in a research study of a medical device that may help to improve their balance. Criteria: At least 18 years old, diagnosed with a stroke at least 3 months ago, ongoing balance problems, and discharged from physical therapy. After an initial functional testing, session participants will return to the Center on Aging for training for 5 consecutive days.  Each training day visit will consist of two 1-hour sessions separated by at least 4 hours. They will then take the device home to complete two 20-minute sessions every day in their home.  After 7 weeks, they will return to the clinic for final functional testing.  The total length of this study is 8 weeks.

Acupuncture in Stroke Rehabilitation:  This study will examine the effect of acupuncture in reducing muscle tightness in the affected upper limb and helping in functional recovery when combined with a motor training in people after stroke. This study will recruit stroke survivors with moderate to severe muscle spasticity and motor impairment in the affected upper limb. Participants will go through two phases in the study. In the first phase of the study, participants will be treated with either electroacpuncture or sham acupuncture three sessions per week for four weeks. In the second phase of the study, participants will be treated three sessions per week for four weeks with a combined electroacupuncture and robot-aided motor training or with the sham electroacupuncture and robot-aided motor training. There will be evaluation sessions before and after each phase of the treatment, and 6 months after the second phase.

Brain and motor recovery in stroke: The purpose of this study is to determine how the brain recovers during a training program aimed at improving arm function in stroke survivors. This study will be useful in understanding effectiveness of new rehabilitation programs and in predicting which stroke survivor might benefit from certain rehabilitation strategies. Stroke survivors who had a first-ever stroke 6 months previously are invited to practice a reach-to-grasp task with the affected arm 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Pre-training and immediately and one-month post-training, neuroimaging and clinical assessments will be performed.

For more information, or to enroll in any of these studies, please call the ASTRA Program Research Line

at 913-588-0646

www2.kumc.edu/coa/Research/

StrokeTIA-DatabaseProject.htm