Testing a Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic versus Placebo Shoulder Strapping as an Adjuvant Intervention Early after Stroke.

This study tested a protocol for a randomized controlled trial of therapeutic versus placebo shoulder strapping as an adjuvant intervention early after stroke. Despite widespread use, there is little evidence of the efficacy or acceptability of shoulder strapping to improve arm function in patients with shoulder paresis following stroke. This study tested a protocol designed to trial shoulder strapping as an adjuvant therapy in patients with shoulder paresis after stroke and tested its acceptability for patients and clinical staff.

Shoulder strapping for stroke-related upper limb dysfunction and shoulder impairments: systematic review.

Background: Shoulder impairments are common after stroke, resulting in reduced upper limb function. Shoulder strapping may be beneficial as an adjunct to conventional therapy and warrants further investigation.

Objectives: To determine i) the efficacy and ii) any adverse effects of shoulder strapping used to reduce stroke-related upper limb and shoulder impairments and to improve function.

Feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial protocol to examine clinical effectiveness of shoulder strapping in acute stroke patients.

Objective: The majority of stroke patients experience upper limb motor impairment and reduced ability to perform basic activities. Shoulder strapping has been reported as a beneficial adjunct to rehabilitation therapies but has not been rigorously trialled. This study tested the feasibility of recruitment, intervention and outcome assessment protocols for future trial of the clinical effectiveness of shoulder strapping.

MRI and neuropsychological improvement in Huntington disease following ethyl-EPA treatment.

A 6-month randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of the ethyl-ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (ethyl-EPA) was carried out in seven in-patients with advanced (stage III) Huntington's disease (three on ethyl-EPA, four on placebo; no significant difference in age or sex between the groups). After 6 months all the patients treated with ethyl-EPA improved on the orofacial component of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale while all the patients on placebo deteriorated on this scale (p < 0.03).