The StrokeEd MOOC
The 2026 UL MOOC is open for registration, Click here.
The MOOC “Analysis and retraining of upper limb function after stroke” has been run twice, and will continue to run annually. It is run by the StrokeEd Collaboration, an Australian educational provider. The content focuses on evidence-based analysis and retraining of the upper limb after stroke.
The 2026 UL MOOC
In 2026 the UL MOOC “Analysis and retraining of upper limb function after stroke” will run from the the 4th May to the 7th June with registrations NOW OPEN. There will be a tiered payment system related to your country’s income. The MOOC will be $100AUD for residents of high-income countries, $50AUD for residents of upper middle-income countries, $20AUD for residents of lower middle-income countries and free for residents of low-income countries. If you would like to look at your country’s classification, please use this World Bank guide
Who can join the MOOC?
Our target audience is occupational therapists and physiotherapists, but anyone involved in stroke rehabilitation is welcome to register for the MOOC.
In 2025, 3,440 people registered for the MOOC, from over 50 countries.
Registrants included occupational therapists, physiotherapists, allied health assistants, physicians, nurses, students, stroke survivors and others interested in stroke rehabilitation. The completion rate was 42% which is a high proportion for MOOC completion, often MOOCs have a 10 to 20% completion rate.
Course overview
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants should be able to meet the following learning outcomes:
- Describe a structured approach to the analysis of activity limitations in reach, grasp and manipulation tasks after stroke
- Outline the evidence base for rehabilitation of the affected arm after stroke
- Describe evidence-based training strategies to increase strength in very weak arm muscles and for intensive task training for the affected arm after stroke
- Describe evidence-based strategies to prevent and treat secondary impairments of the affected arm after stroke
Week 1:
Key concepts
- Defining key terms i.e. kinematics and kinetics
- UL anatomy, major muscles of the UL and their roles
- The contribution of impairments to activity limitations
- Clinical reasoning for UL movement problems after stroke
Week 2:
Movement analysis
- The biomechanics of UL tasks
- Identifying kinematic deviations, compensations and potential impairments
- Determining the causes of the UL movement problems
Week 3:
Evidence-based intervention
- Appraising systematic review and clinical trials
- Improving strength in weak UL muscles
- Video examples of training very weak muscles including implementing mirror therapy, E-stim, mental practice
Week 4:
Evidence-based intervention
- Improving UL task performance including advanced hand co-ordination
- Video examples of training common tasks
- Evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce; subluxation, shoulder pain, swelling and contracture after stroke
Week 5:
Effective coaching and intensity of practice
- Evidence-based coaching for UL rehabilitation including; effective instructions, feedback and environment set up
- Strategies to increase intensity and amounts of UL practice
- UL Case studies
- Changing your practice – reflective tasks
Presenters
The course was presented by StrokeEd directors: Associate Professor Simone Dorsch, Dr Annie McCluskey and Karl Schurr.
Cost
The MOOC will be $100AUD for residents of high-income countries, $50AUD for residents of upper middle-income countries, $20AUD for residents of lower middle-income countries and free for residents of low-income countries. StrokeEd aims to make their education and training accessible and affordable to all practitioners.
Participant feedback from the 2025 UL MOOC
I am a new graduate OT in acute setting and it has provided me with excellent insight into early assessment and recognition of areas to assess.
I have really enjoyed taking part in the MOOC. It has been a great refresher and opportunity to think reflectively about my own clinical practice but also gain a better understanding of and ideas for how to set up and facilitate self directed practice
Excellent MOOC, Fantastic value for money, all the content was of a very high standard but easy to watch and understand
No routine splinting of severely weak upper limb. Weigh up benefits/disadvantages to Botulinum Toxin into spastic muscles if not used in conjunction with other strategies. Increasing the intensity, number of repetitions at each session and greater self directed practice
Attending the UL Movement Analysis after Stroke MOOC has shifted my focus toward task-specific, active rehabilitation rather than relying on passive treatments. I now prioritize meaningful activity-based assessments, involve stroke survivors more in goal setting, and consider movement quality, not just completion of tasks. I’m also more cautious about overusing slings or static splints, and I’m exploring the use of video analysis to track progress and guide treatment. Overall, my practice is becoming more evidence-informed and patient-centered.
As a result of completing the UL MOOC, I have implemented several key changes in my clinical practice As an OT including integrating evidence-based approaches more consistently, enhancing patient communication strategies, refining my clinical reasoning skills and also adopting a more reflective and person-centered approach to care, all of which have contributed to improved outcomes and my greater professional confidence.
I’ve learnt a lot about treatment strategies and ways to change the environment to create a semi-supervised program for upper limb class.