Effects of Dual-transcranial Direct Current Stimulation During Physical Therapy in Sub-acute Stroke

Mahidol University19 enrolled

Overview

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible effect of using dual-tDCS applied during conventional physical therapy on lower limb function in stroke patients.

Recently dual-tDCS applied before the conventional physical therapy show positive effect of lower limb performance. However to explore the time during which dual-tDCS can be combined with physical therapy to maximize motor performance is required. Results from the present study with be compared with our previous study that used dual-tDCS applied before physical therapy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Stroke

Interventions

Transcranial direct current stimulationDEVICE

Dual Active/sham tDCS will be applied over the leg motor area (M1) during the first 20 mins of conventional physical therapy. Anodal on affected hemisphere, Cathodal on unaffected hemisphere. Each participant will complete two experiments (active/sham tDCS). The interval between two experiments is at least 2 weeks. The two experiments will be performed in random order for each subject.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age range 18-75 years. 2. First ever-ischemic lesion in the territory of middle cerebral artery or anterior cerebral artery. CT scan/MRI result is thus required. 3. Sub acute phase of stroke (less than 6 months) 4. Able to sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit independently 5. Able to walk without physical assistance at least 6 m 6. Free of any neurological antecedent, unstable medical conditions or condition that may increase the risk of stimulation such as epilepsy Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pre-stroke disability 2. Pregnant 3. Be unable to understand the instruction 4. No clear neurological antecedent history or psychiatric disorder 5. Excessive pain in any joint of the paretic limb (numerical pain rating score \> 7) 6. Presence of intracranial metal implantation, cochlea implant, or cardiac pacemaker 7. Subjects are participating in the other protocol or receiving alternative treatment such as acupuncture

Locations (1)

Faculty ofPhysical Therapy, Mahidol University

Salaya, Nakonpathom, Thailand

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand test (FTSST)

sling. Subjects will be instructed as the following "I want you to stand up and sit down 5 times as quickly as you can when I say 'Go'." Subjects must be fully standing between repetitions. Timing will begin at "GO" and ends when the patient's buttocks touch the seat after the fifth sit-to-stand.

Time frame: 5 minutes

Timed Up & Go test (TUG)

Subjects will sits on the chair and place their back against the chair. Timing will begin at "GO", the subjects will be asked to walk 3m, turn, walk back, and sit down. The stopwatch stops when the patient's buttocks touch the seat.

Time frame: 5 minutes

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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