The investigators hypothesize that application of electrical stimulation would augment the effects of exercises in patients with stroke. Combined electrical stimulation with exercises for 6 weeks would lead to earlier and greater improvement in motor functions when compared with placebo-stimulation with exercises.
Previous studies have shown that repeated sensory inputs from transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) could enhance brain plasticity and conical motor output. Home-based rehabilitation is shown to be effective in motor recovery and improvement of functional ability in stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to develop a home-based rehabilitation program to investigate whether combined electrically induced sensory inputs through TES with task-related trunk training (TRTT) in a home-based program would induce earlier and/or greater improvement in, seated reaching distance and trunk control when compared with placebo TES and TRTT, or control with no active treatment in subjects with chronic stroke.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
37
electrical stimulation with exercises
placebo stimulation with exercises
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Trunk Impairment Scale
The Trunk impairment scale is a 2 to 4-point ordinal scale. The scale assesses static and dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination. The maximum scores on the static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination subscales are 7, 10, and 6 points, respectively. The total score of Trunk impairment scale ranges between 0 and 23 points, with a higher score representing better trunk control. The static sitting balance subscale evaluated the trunk stability with both feet on the floor and with the legs crossed. The dynamic sitting balance subscale evaluated the ability to perform trunk side flexion. The coordination components evaluated the ability to selectively rotate the upper and lower parts of the trunk.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks
Forward Sitting Functional Reach Test
Sitting Functional Reach was used to assess the limits of stability in reaching activities. The sitting functional reach test measures how far forward, from a sitting position, a subject can bend forward to reach without losing his/her balance. A longer reaching distance indicated a better trunk control.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.