Recovery of the arm after stroke

In acute, very weak stroke patients does electromyographic (EMG) triggered electrical stimulation increase strength and activity in the arm compared to conventional therapy alone?

Status

Terminated

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12611000309987

Enrollment

Registered

2011-03-23

Start date

2007-08-06

Completion date

2010-10-25

Last updated

2022-01-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

People who have had a severe stroke generally remain very disabled. An EMG triggered electrical stimulation machine measures electrical activity in muscles and provides electrical stimulation when a threshold level of muscle activity is reached, hence it provides feedback to people with weak muscles and strengthens muscles. Seventy very weak, acute stroke patients will be allocated to receive EMG triggered electrical stimulation to muscles of their arm in addition to conventional therapy or conventional therapy only. Measures of muscle strength and activity will be taken before and after the intervention. This intervention has the potential to increase the likelihood of returning to independence after a severe stroke.

Interventions

Intervention group -usual therapy (physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions including strengthening, cyclical electrical stimulalation, task specific training of reaching and manipulation) and EMG triggered electrical stimulation to 4 major muscles of the upper limb (UL). They will receive the intervention for 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

50 Years to 85 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of stroke less than 4 weeks before, medically stable, no previous stroke with residual deficits, previously able to manipulate objects independently, less than grade 3 muscle strength in 3 out of 4 of the following muscle groups of the affected UL , shoulder flexors, elbow extensors, wrist extensors, thumb abductors, have sufficient cognition and communication to understand the purpose of the study and give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Demand style cardiac pacemaker, severe receptive aphasia, previous stroke resulting in hemiplegia/ hemiparesis or any barriers to taking part in a physical rehabilitation programme.

Outcome results