RecruitingNot Applicable

Effect of Shoulder Sling Use on Balance and Mobility in Subacute Stroke Patients

Greece17 participantsStarted 2025-03-13

Plain-language summary

This study examines whether wearing a shoulder sling can improve balance and mobility in people who are recovering from a stroke. Participants will perform simple movement and balance tests twice-once with the sling and once without. The goal is to find out if using the sling helps patients feel more stable and safe during walking and everyday activities.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of stroke in the subacute phase (up to 6 months post-onset) * Hemiplegia affecting one upper limb * Brunnstrom stage \< 4 for the affected upper limb * Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score \> 3 * Age between 40 and 80 years * Ability to follow simple instructions * Medically stable to participate in balance and mobility testing * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment (e.g. MMSE \< 23) * Visual or vestibular disorders affecting balance * Significant orthopedic or musculoskeletal conditions of the lower limbs * Uncontrolled cardiovascular or pulmonary disease * Use of assistive devices that prevent sling application * Severe aphasia interfering with understanding or communication * Skin lesions or injuries at the shoulder region preventing sling use

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)

Functional Reach Test (FRT)

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)

Modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST)

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06904768

SponsorArnaoutis Stylianos

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-04

Contact for this trial

Stylianos Arnaoutis

+306981199528 mscphys23001@uniwa.gr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hemiplegia trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)

Functional Reach Test (FRT)

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)

Modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST)

Timeframe: Within 1 day (each participant performs it twice - with and without sling)