None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term adult disability. Advances in neuroscience have led to the development of techniques for promoting neuroplasticity and recovery after stroke. These techniques include transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which is generally accepted to be a safe, painless and promising adjuvant to neurorehabilitation. However, there have been only two studies of its effects on patients engaged in standard rehabilitation at the sub-acute stage, with mixed results. The aims of this feasibility study are to determine whether tDCS can be integrated in clinical practice in New Zealand, and whether it can accelerate the recovery of hand and arm function after stroke. People who have experienced a stroke in the last 2 weeks, and are now engaged in rehabilitation, may be eligible to take part in this trial. Taking part will involve having real or sham tDCS added to upper limb therapy sessions for the first six weeks of recovery. Hand and arm movements will be assessed weekly for the first six weeks, with follow-up measures made 9 and 12 weeks after stroke.
Interventions
Transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied for 20 minutes, no more than once per day, during upper limb therapy sessions. These sessions may be daily, or less frequently, depending on the rehabilitation programme devised for each participant by the therapy team. The anode will be positioned over the stroke-affected primary motor cortex. The cathode will be positioned over the opposite primary motor cortex. The stimulus intensity will be up to 2 mA. Stimulation will be delivered usin
Transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied for 20 minutes, no more than once per day, during upper limb therapy sessions. These sessions may be daily, or less frequently, depending on the rehabilitation programme devised for each participant by the therapy team. The anode will be positioned over the stroke-affected primary motor cortex. The cathode will be positioned over the opposite primary motor cortex. The stimulus intensity will be up to 2 mA. Stimulation will be delivered using a HDCStim unit and cap. TDCS will be added to therapy sessions until the participant is discharged from rehabilitation, or reaches 6 weeks post-stroke, whichever occurs first.
Sponsors
The University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
First-ever mono-hemispheric ischaemic stroke within the previous 2 weeks. Requiring upper limb rehabilitation.
Exclusion criteria
Cerebellar stroke. Contraindications to TDCS, which are: metal implants in the head (other than dental fillings); cardiac pacemaker; history of epilepsy; pregnancy. Cognitive or communication impairment precluding informed consent. Unable to produce at least 10 degrees voluntary extension of the paretic wrist or fingers without gravity.
Outcome results
None listed