Upper extremity (UE) paresis or weakness is one of the most frequent impairments after stroke. Despite intense rehabilitation, motor and functional recovery of patients with severe hand impairments is poor. Hence, there is a need for more effective treatments to enhance motor function in patients with severe hand impairments after stroke. Adaptive functional electrical stimulation (FES) appears to be a promising treatment and has the potential to facilitate active movement in individuals with severe impairments post-stroke. In addition, transcranial random noise stimulation (trns) is a widely studied, non-invasive and safe method to enhance the corticomotor excitability in individuals with chronic stroke. However, the effect of combining trns and adaptive FES in patients with severe hand impairments has not been investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether combining trns with FES will enhance hand function in individuals with chronic stroke than FES alone. The investigators predict that combining trns with FES will significantly enhance hand function than FES alone.
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether combining transcranial random noise stimulation with functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice will enhance hand function in individuals with severe paresis post-stroke than functional electrical stimulation alone. The study is an experimental randomized study comparing the effects of transcranial random noise stimulation with functional electrical stimulation to functional electrical stimulation alone on recovery of function in the more-affected hand in individuals with chronic stroke. Participants were randomized to receive transcranial random noise stimulation and functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice or sham-transcranial random noise stimulation and functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice. Participants received 18 treatment sessions over 6 weeks (3 times/week for 6 weeks).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
14
Participants were randomized to one of the two intervention groups \[transcranial current stimulation (tRNS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) or FES with sham tRNS\] before pre-intervention testing. After randomization, participants underwent pre-intervention testing, followed by intervention 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Each intervention session lasted for 1 hour, where tRNS or sham-tRNS were delivered concurrently with the FES-facilitated task practice. tRNS or sham-tRNS was delivered for the first 30 minutes. Both tRNS and sham tRNS were delivered by the Starstim system. FES was delivered using the Neuromove system. All participants were treated by a licensed occupational therapist, who was trained on a manualized protocol.
Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Lab
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Change From Baseline in Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity Scale at Post Treatment
Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FMUE) is considered the gold standard in upper extremity rehabilitation trials and measures upper extremity motor control by asking the participant to perform various arm and hand motions. Items are scored on a 3-point ordinal scale with 0 representing inability to complete the item and 2 representing the ability to complete the item as asked. We will use the total score, which ranges from 0-66. Higher score suggest better upper extremity motor control. The FMUE has been shown to have good reliability and validity.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change From Baseline in Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity Scale at 3 Months Post Treatment
Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FMUE) is considered the gold standard in upper extremity rehabilitation trials and measures upper extremity motor control by asking the participant to perform various arm and hand motions. Items are scored on a 3-point ordinal scale with 0 representing inability to complete the item and 2 representing the ability to complete the item as asked. We will use the total score, which ranges from 0-66. Higher score suggest better upper extremity motor control. The FMUE has been shown to have good reliability and validity.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change From Baseline in Wolf Motor Function Test at Post Treatment
The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a 15-item test in which participants are given 2 minutes to complete each item. The items increase in difficulty from simple UE movements requiring few degrees of freedom (e.g. placing hand on a table) to tasks requiring the coordination of many degrees of freedom of movement (e.g. folding a towel). We used average time taken to complete the 15-items. Faster performance is indicative of better task performance. The WMFT is a valid and reliable test of UE function post-stroke.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change From Baseline in Wolf Motor Function Test at 3 Months Post Treatment
The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a 15-item test in which participants are given 2 minutes to complete each item. The items increase in difficulty from simple UE movements requiring few degrees of freedom (e.g. placing hand on a table) to tasks requiring the coordination of many degrees of freedom of movement (e.g. folding a towel). We used average time taken to complete the 15-items. Faster performance is indicative of better task performance. The WMFT is a valid and reliable test of UE function post-stroke.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change From Baseline in Grip Strength at Post Treatment
Grip strength measures the amount of maximum voluntary grip force of the weak hand using a hand-held dynamometer. We will use the maximum amount of force in pounds.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change From Baseline in Grip Strength at 3 Months Post Treatment
Grip strength measures the amount of maximum voluntary grip force of the weak hand using a hand-held dynamometer. We will use the maximum amount of force in pounds.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change From Baseline in Hand Subscale of Stroke Impact Scale at Post Treatment
The Hand sub scale of Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 (HSIS) will be used to measure the impact of stroke on participants' health and daily life. The Hand sub scale SIS is a self-report measure, which evaluates the ability of the hand to participate in daily tasks. The scale consists of 5 items and each item is scored on a 5-item Likert scale. We will use the total score, which ranges from 1-25, with a higher score indicative of better recovery.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change From Baseline in Hand Subscale of Stroke Impact Scale at 3 Months Post Treatment
The Hand sub scale of Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 (HSIS) will be used to measure the impact of stroke on participants' health and daily life. The Hand sub scale SIS is a self-report measure, which evaluates the ability of the hand to participate in daily tasks. The scale consists of 5 items and each item is scored on a 5-item Likert scale. We will use the total score, which ranges from 1-25, with a higher score indicative of better recovery.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change From Baseline in Action Research Arm Test at Post Treatment
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) measures arm and hand recovery after stroke. The ARAT is a 19-item measure divided into 4 sub-tests (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross arm movement). The total score from the 4 sub-tests ranges from 0-57. We will use total score. Higher scores suggest better ability to grasp, grip and perform arm movements.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change From Baseline in Action Research Arm Test at 3 Months Post Treatment
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) measures arm and hand recovery after stroke. The ARAT is a 19-item measure divided into 4 sub-tests (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross arm movement). The total score from the 4 sub-tests ranges from 0-57. We will use total score. Higher scores suggest better ability to grasp, grip and perform arm movements.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change in Baseline in H-reflex at Post Treatment
H-reflex testing will be used to record the spastic reflex in the Flexor carper radials (FCR) muscle of the weak hand. H-reflex is the reflex reaction of the muscles after electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerves supplying the muscle. Here we will stimulate the median nerve to stimulate and record the H-reflex values of the H-reflex. Normalized H-reflex values will be used. Lower values represent decrease in spasticity in the FCR after treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change in Baseline in H-reflex at 3 Months Post Treatment
H-reflex testing will be used to record the spastic reflex in the Flexor carper radials (FCR) muscle of the weak hand. H-reflex is the reflex reaction of the muscles after electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerves supplying the muscle. Here we will stimulate the median nerve to stimulate and record the H-reflex values of the H-reflex. Normalized H-reflex values will be used. Lower values represent decrease in spasticity in the FCR after treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 weeks.
Change in Baseline in Brain Activity at Post Treatment
Electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to record brain activity. EEG will be recorded while the participant is attempting to perform movements of the weak hand, or while they are at rest. We will attach EEG sensors to the scalp to measure brain activity. We will compute power of the EEG signal in the alpha and beta bands. Higher values will represent increase in brain activity post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change in Baseline in Brain Activity at 3 Months Post Treatment
Electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to record brain activity. EEG will be recorded while the participant is attempting to perform movements of the weak hand, or while they are at rest. We will attach EEG sensors to the scalp to measure brain activity. We will compute power of the EEG signal in the alpha and beta bands. Higher values will represent increase in brain activity post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change in Baseline in Muscle Activity at Post Treatment
We will record muscle activity using Electromyography (EMG). We will collect EMG using 2 methods: basic EMG and High Definition EMG. In the basic EMG we will use (2 sensors) for the extensor carpi radials and flexor carp radials muscles and record muscle activity during wrist movements. In the High Definition EMG participants will wear a forearm sleeve, which will allows us to collect activity from multiple muscles, responsible for grasping and releasing objects of daily use. We will calculate the max voluntary contraction of the forearm muscles. Normalized values will be used. Higher values will represent increased muscle activity post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change in Baseline in Muscle Activity at 3 Months Post Treatment
We will record muscle activity using Electromyography (EMG). We will collect EMG using 2 methods: basic EMG and High Definition EMG. In the basic EMG we will use (2 sensors) for the extensor carpi radials and flexor carp radials muscles and record muscle activity during wrist movements. In the High Definition EMG participants will wear a forearm sleeve, which will allows us to collect activity from multiple muscles, responsible for grasping and releasing objects of daily use. We will calculate the max voluntary contraction of the forearm muscles. Normalized values will be used. Higher values will represent increased muscle activity post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change in Baseline in Brain Excitability at Post Treatment
We will use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to measures the excitability of motor pathways in the brain. Normalized values will used. Higher values represent higher brain excitability post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change in Baseline in Brain Excitability at 3 Months Post Treatment
We will use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to measures the excitability of motor pathways in the brain. Normalized values will used. Higher values represent higher brain excitability post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
Change in in Baseline in Upper Extremity Kinematics at Post Treatment
We will use motion capture system to measure changes in upper extremity kinematics, including shoulder, elbow, wrist joint range of motion. The values will be measured in degrees. Higher values will represent greater range of motion post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks.
Change in in Baseline in Upper Extremity Kinematics at 3 Months Post Treatment
We will use motion capture system to measure changes in upper extremity kinematics, including shoulder, elbow, wrist joint range of motion. The values will be measured in degrees. Higher values will represent greater range of motion post treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months.
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