This study examines the effect of non-invasive brain stimulation targeting different brain areas on movement of the affected arm post-stroke. Participants will receive stimulation to each of 3 different brain areas combined with a session of arm exercise.
Small improvements in affected arm movement can be made with intensive physical practice. These improvements could potentially be enhanced by combining non-invasive brain stimulation with practice. To develop such an intervention, it is necessary to understand which brain areas should be stimulated in which types of patients. It is probably more beneficial to target one side of the brain vs. the other, for example, depending on the characteristics of the stroke. This study will examine the effect of stimulating one side of the brain vs. the other on the amount of improvement that occurs from physically practicing functional arm movements.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
10
Non-invasive brain stimulation to unaffected hemisphere site prior to practice
Non-invasive brain stimulation to affected hemisphere site prior to practice
Non-invasive brain stimulation to control site prior to practice
MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Change in movement time
Percentage change in time it takes to move the arm a standardized distance
Time frame: Baseline and 1 Day
Change in maximum reaching distance
Percentage change in maximum distance participant is able to reach
Time frame: Baseline and 1 Day
Change in hand path kinematics
Percentage change in temporal and spatial movement of the hand during reaching
Time frame: Baseline and 1 Day
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