Improving Hand Recovery With Neuromodulation in Tetraplegia

Sara Shahid Salles6 enrolled

Overview

This study will examine a form of non-invasive brain stimulation applied with intensive therapy of the arm and hand. The goal of the study is to determine if arm and hand function can be improved in people with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (neck spinal cord injury, tetraplegia). Participants will be assigned to receive either active or inactive non-invasive brain stimulation.

This study will look at the effects of a painless, non-invasive form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS. tDCS is thought to increase the brain's ability to change. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups by chance. One group will receive tDCS at a level expected to increase the brain's ability to change, while the other group will receive tDCS at a level not thought to affect the brain's ability to change. All participants will receive intensive therapy of their more impaired arm and hand, focusing on exercises that are meaningful to him/her.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries Tetraplegia, Unspecified, Incomplete, Chronic

Interventions

transcranial direct current stimulationDEVICE

This is a non-invasive form of stimulation which delivers safe, low levels of electrical current to the brain through the scalp.

Intensive upper extremity motor trainingBEHAVIORAL

This training is administered one-on-one with an occupational therapist. Activities will be focused on skills the participant wants to regain.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. traumatic, incomplete cervical SCI sustained at neurological level C4-C7 and classified as B, C or D by the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS); 2. sustained injury at least 1 year prior to enrollment (i.e., chronic); and 3. Men and women between the ages of 18-65. Exclusion Criteria: 1. history of head injury, seizures, severe alcohol or drug abuse, or psychiatric illness; 2. cognitive deficits severe enough to preclude informed consent; 3. positive pregnancy test or being of childbearing age and not using appropriate contraception; 4. presence of ferromagnetic material in the cranium except in the mouth, including metal fragments from occupational exposure and surgical clips in or near the brain; 5. decubitus ulcers that might interfere with intervention; 6. cardiac or neural pacemakers; 7. fixed UE contractures; 8. untreated depression; 9. concurrent participation in occupational therapy; 10. within 3 months of recruitment, an addition or change in the dosage of drugs known to exert detrimental effects on motor recovery.

Locations (1)

University of Kentucky at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital

Lexington, Kentucky, United States