Studies has shown that passively stimulating the arm with vibration can improve sensory and motor recovery and movement. Researchers want to expand on this with a more advanced stimulation but in a device that is already routinely used. The SCD is normally used to prevent blood clots. It uses pressure to keep blood moving in the leg. It is routinely used in hospitals across the country. While it does this it warms and even vibrates the leg giving many types of stimulation to the limb and to the brain. This stimulation may help improve recovery further, at marginal cost, while possibly reducing the chances of blood clots in an immobile limb.
The primary purpose of this study is to establish that application of a Sequential Compression Device (SCD) and lower extremity (LE) sleeve applied to a hemi-paretic upper extremity is safe.