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Not yet recruitingNCT07590349ROBOHOMEUpdated May 15, 2026

Personalized Robotic Telerehabilitation for Upper Limb Functional Recovery After Stroke in a Home-Based Setting

An interventional study of Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation Virtual Reality-Based Telerehabilitation and Virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform without robotic assistance in Stroke, Hemiparesis and Upper Extremity Paresis, sponsored by University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-15.

Sponsored by University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
70
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with upper-limb impairment representing a major determinant of functional limitation and reduced independence. Conventional rehabilitation approaches are often limited by accessibility, intensity, and long-term adherence, highlighting the need for innovative, home-based solutions.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized robotic telerehabilitation program for upper-limb recovery in individuals with post-stroke motor impairment. The intervention combines a wearable robotic device with a virtual reality-based platform, enabling patients to perform structured, task-oriented exercises in a home environment under remote supervision.

Participants will be allocated to either a robotic-assisted telerehabilitation program or a control condition based on virtual reality-based rehabilitation alone. Motor recovery will be assessed using standardized clinical scales, including the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), along with measures of functional performance, patient-reported outcomes, and treatment adherence.

By integrating robotic assistance with telemedicine, this study seeks to enhance rehabilitation intensity, improve patient engagement, and facilitate continuity of care beyond traditional clinical settings. The results are expected to support the development of accessible, personalized rehabilitation pathways for individuals with stroke-related upper-limb disability.

Read the detailed description

This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized telerehabilitation protocol integrating a wearable robotic device with a virtual reality (VR)-based platform in individuals with post-stroke upper-limb impairment.

Stroke-related upper-limb dysfunction significantly affects daily activities, social participation, and quality of life. According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), participation is a key outcome; however, upper-limb disability represents a major barrier to inclusion.

Robotic rehabilitation and advanced technologies have demonstrated clinical effectiveness in improving motor function. However, their use is mainly limited to specialized centers. Home-based telerehabilitation enables continuity of care, enhances treatment intensity, and supports long-term recovery, while reducing the need for in-person sessions.

The intervention combines:

a wearable robotic device (EMOVO), a virtual reality telerehabilitation platform (VRRS Home Kit).

Participants will undergo a structured 4-week rehabilitation program consisting of daily 60-minute sessions administered at home and remotely supervised by rehabilitation professionals.

Participants will be randomized into:

an experimental group receiving robotic-assisted telerehabilitation, a control group receiving VR-based telerehabilitation alone.

The study will evaluate motor recovery, functional performance, patient-reported outcomes, treatment adherence, user satisfaction, and safety.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stroke
  • Hemiparesis
  • Upper Extremity Paresis
  • Motor Impairment
  • Rehabilitation

Keywords

  • stroke
  • Robotics
  • Telerehabilitation
  • Hemiplegia
03

In context

Stroke

8,255 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,056 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 70 is above the median of 49 across 6,024 interventional studies indexed under Stroke.

Browse Stroke studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli is the lead sponsor of 174 studies on the registry; 28 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18 years or older
  • Diagnosis of stroke with residual upper-limb motor impairment
  • Upper-limb functional impairment defined by a Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score between 20 and 50
  • Ability to understand study procedures and provide written
  • Availability of a home environment suitable for telerehabilitation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of severe neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting the upper limb
  • Severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale ≥3)
  • Severe upper-limb pain (Numerical Rating Scale >4)
  • Skin lesions, infections, or conditions preventing safe use of wearable devices
  • Participation in another interventional clinical trial
  • Any medical or cognitive condition that may interfere with compliance or safe participation in the study
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
70 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation for Upper Limb Recovery

    Participants assigned to this arm will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program supported by a wearable robotic device integrated with a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period and includes passive and active-assisted upper-limb mobilization, grasping and releasing exercises, task-oriented activities, and interactive exergaming exercises. All sessions will be remotely supervised by a physiotherapist, with individualized adjustments based on participant performance and progression.

    Device: Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation Virtual Reality-Based Telerehabilitation

  • Active comparator
    Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation Without Robotic Support

    Participants assigned to this arm will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program delivered through a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period and includes upper-limb mobilization exercises, task-oriented training, and interactive exergaming activities. All sessions will be remotely supervised by a physiotherapist to ensure correct execution and adherence to the rehabilitation protocol.

    Other: Virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform without robotic assistance

Interventions

  • DeviceRobotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation Virtual Reality-Based Telerehabilitation

    Experimental: Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation for Upper Limb Recovery Arm Description: Participants assigned to the experimental group will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program supported by a wearable robotic device integrated with a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period, including passive and active-assisted upper-limb mobilization, task-oriented exercises, and exergaming activities, with remote supervision by a physiotherapist.

  • OtherVirtual reality-based rehabilitation platform without robotic assistance

    Active Comparator: Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation Without Robotic Support Arm Description: Participants assigned to the control group will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program delivered through a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period, including upper-limb mobilization exercises, task-oriented training, and interactive exergaming activities. All sessions will be remotely supervised by a physiotherapist to ensure correct execution and adherence to the protocol.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in upper-limb motor function assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)

    The primary outcome is the change in upper-limb motor function measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), comparing baseline (pre-intervention) and post-treatment values. The FMA-UE is a validated, stroke-specific scale that evaluates motor recovery and functional impairment of the upper limb.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Box and Block Test (BBT)

    Assessment of manual dexterity and upper-limb functional performance using the Box and Block Test.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

  2. Functional independence

    Barthel Index (BI): Assessment of functional independence in activities of daily living using the Barthel Index. The Barthel Index is a standardized scale ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate greater functional independence.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

  3. Pain intensity and interference

    Brief Pain Inventory (BPI): Assessment of pain severity and pain-related interference with daily activities using the Brief Pain Inventory. The BPI is a standardized scale with scores ranging from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and greater interference with daily activities.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

  4. Stroke-related quality of life

    Stroke Impact Scale (SIS): Evaluation of stroke-related quality of life across physical, emotional, and social domains using the Stroke Impact Scale. The SIS is a standardized patient-reported outcome measure with domain scores ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better quality of life and functional status.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

  5. Muscle strength

    Handgrip Strength Test (HST): Measurement of upper-limb muscle strength using handgrip dynamometry.

    Time frame: Baseline to 4 weeks

  6. Patient satisfaction

    Assessment of user satisfaction with assistive technology and system integration using the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0). The QUEST 2.0 is a standardized questionnaire with item scores ranging from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate greater user satisfaction. Clinically meaningful satisfaction is defined as a mean score ≥4.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  7. Usability

    System Usability Scale (SUS): Evaluation of system usability. A score ≥70 will be considered indicative of acceptable usability.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  8. Safety and tolerability

    Incidence of adverse events: Assessment of safety based on the number and severity of adverse events related to the intervention

    Time frame: Throughout study (up to 4 weeks)

  9. Treatment adherence and discontinuation

    Drop-out rate: Proportion of participants who discontinue the intervention before completion.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Publications

  • Langhorne P, Bernhardt J, Kwakkel G. Stroke rehabilitation. Lancet. 2011 May 14;377(9778):1693-702. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60325-5. PubMed 21571152 ↗
  • GBD 2019 Acute and Chronic Care Collaborators. Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Nat Commun. 2025 May 7;16(1):4235. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56910-x. PubMed 40335470 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Individual participant data underlying the results will be shared with researchers upon reasonable request, following publication of the study results. Data will be de-identified in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

Supporting information: Study protocol

Time frame: Starting 6 months after publication of the primary results; ending 5 years after publication.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 15, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07590349
Responsible party
Sara Liguori (Researcher, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 15, 2026
Start date
Jun 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
May 30, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 30, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
May 15, 2026

Study contacts

MARCO PAOLETTA, Researcher
Contact
marco.paoletta@unicampania.it
+393922123028

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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