This study tests whether a brain stimulation technique called tACS can help stroke patients recover movement in their affected arm. Patients receive either real or fake brain stimulation three times a week for about a month (12 sessions total). During each session, they wear a cap with electrodes that deliver mild electrical currents tailored to their individual brain patterns, while researchers monitor their brain activity. The study measures progress at three time points: before treatment, right after treatment, and one month later. Researchers use brain stimulation tests to check how well the brain controls muscles, and conduct physical tests to measure arm movement, muscle stiffness, and grip strength.
This randomised, double-blinded clinical trial investigates whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve upper limb motor recovery in chronic stroke patients. Participants receive either active or sham tACS delivered three times weekly for 4-6 weeks (12 sessions total) using individualised stimulation frequencies. The intervention uses 1 mA peak-to-peak intensity with EEG monitoring before and after each session to track brain oscillation changes. Assessments occur at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Neurophysiological measures include transcranial magnetic stimulation evaluations of corticospinal excitability, motor thresholds, and intracortical inhibition. Clinical outcomes encompass the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity, and handgrip strength measurements.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
34
. tACS will be delivered at a maximum intensity of 1 mA (peak-to-peak) at a frequency corresponding to the individual peak motor imagery (MI) performance frequency. 12 sessions of tACS will be conducted 3 times a week within 4-6 weeks.
Sham mode of the tACS stimulator will be turned on for sham stimulation.
Alexandra Hospital
Singapore, Singapore
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Time frame: Week 0
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Time frame: Week 6
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Time frame: Week 10
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Time frame: Week 0
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Time frame: Week 6
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Time frame: Week 10
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: Week 0
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: Week 6
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Time frame: Week 10
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome
Time frame: Week 0
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome
Time frame: Week 6
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome.
Time frame: Week 10
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