Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

 1. Participant is in the subacute phase after having a stroke (within 3 months after stroke)

 2. Participant has a Barthel Index of at least 30 points

 3. Participant has an arm paresis with a Medical Research Council score of 2–4 points for shoulder abduction, elbow flexion and finger flexion

 4. Participant is aged > 18 years

 5. Participant can lift the affected hand from their lap to a desk standing in front of them

 6. Participant is able to sit for 30 s without using upper extremities for support

 7. Passive range of motion is at least 90° of shoulder abduction and flexion; 90° of elbow flexion; 30° of wrist extension; 30° between pronation and supination; a touch of finger tips and thumb and submaximal finger extension is possible

 8. Apraxia Screen of TULIA Score of ≥ 5

 9. Written informed consent of the patient or their legal guardian has been obtained

Exclusion criteria

 1. 4 or 5 points on Modified Ashworth Scale

 2. > 5 points on a pain rating scale at rest

 3. Manifest heart diseases like cardiac insufficiency (> New York Heart Association stage 1), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction within 120 days before recruitment, cardiomyopathy, hypertonia (European Society of Hypertension, grade 2 [47]) or severe cardiac arrhythmia

 4. Inflammation or infection, with fibre, ECOG Performance Status Grade 3 or 4 [48] or isolation

 5. Myopathy (like muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis or myotonia)