Inclusion Criteria:  a first-ever unilateral, diagnosed stroke by a neurologist as defined by the World Health Organisation, been admitted to the acute hospital for rehabilitation, UL hemiparesis or hemiplegia with a ≥ trace of muscle contraction (≥grade 1 at wrist extensors measured by the MRC Scale and severely motor affected by score of 2 or 3 on item number 5 on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the age of > 18 years and (e) the ability to provide informed consent.  Exclusion Criteria:  other neurological impairments that could interfere with the protocol such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's serious communication, cognitive and language deficits which might hamper the assessment (score of >1 on the command item of the NIHSS).