The purpose of this study is to determine if a form of exercise,known as electrical stimulation can improve walking function and other important health outcomes. The hypothesis is that electrical stimulation can enhance the ability to walk for stroke survivors who are unable to walk on their on their own.
A stroke is a devastating life event, that can result in permanent disability. Many people who survive a stroke will experience paralysis on one side of their body. The muscles in one leg may become weaker or stiff to the point that the person can barely walk. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an intervention that applies short current pulses to muscles and causes them to contract. Previous work done by our team has used FES in the spinal cord injured population to help restore functions such as walking and grasping by contracting groups of paralyzed muscles in an orchestrated manner. This study seeks to explore whether a thrice weekly FES-assisted walking intervention for a 8 week period can stimulate or improve walking ability in individuals with severe lower extremity paralysis secondary to a stroke. This will subsequently promote opportunities for enhanced social participation and quality of life i.e. enhanced balance, increased independence of activities of daily living etc. for stroke consumers. Comparison: 40 individuals with severe hemiplegia will be randomized to either a thrice weekly control (false) FES training regimen OR a thrice weekly intervention (true) FES training regimen. Prior to randomization, participants will be stratified according to their ability to ambulate (walk). This study will determine if FES can improve or enhance walking ability associated with stroke after 8 weeks of training, and after 4-month follow-up period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
'True' Functional Electrical Stimulation Assisted Walking
'False' FES
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute: Lyndhurst Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGThe ability of FES-Assisted Walking to stimulate or improve walking ability using a dichotomous outcome i.e. yes/no stimulation or improvement of walking ability on a two-minute walk test.
Time frame: Test performed weekly during 8-week period as well as at 2 month and 6 month time point.
Assessment of balance by completing four tests i.e. move from a seated to a standing position, completion of activities of daily living tasks such as moving from a bed to a wheelchair, standing with eyes opened and closed.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 month and 6 month period.
Bone density at hip, spine, proximal tibia and distal femur using dual-energy xray absorptiometry
Time frame: Baseline, 2-month and 6-month
Assess functional abilities by performing various tasks using our leg and foot as well as your ability to perform functional tasks such as eating, grooming and bathing.
Time frame: Baseline, 2-month and 6-month time points.
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