None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research is to investigate the usability and acceptability of exciteBCI a wearable rehabilitation device that is in a development and refinement phase, which aims to improve walking ability in people with stroke. The intervention has been tested previously and shown to be safe and effective when delivered using laboratory based equipment. We are making a smaller, lighter, portable version of the laboratory device, which can be used in clinical settings. We want to observe people with stroke and therapists while they use the device, and then interview them to find out what they think about the exciteBCI and how it could be made better. We will use these findings to modify the device to improve its usability and acceptability to clinicians and people with stroke. Following the incorporation of usability feedback, two stroke participants will take part in a 3 week physiotherapy intervention in which standard physiotherapy exercises will be supplemented with the exciteBCI.
Interventions
exciteBCI is a wearable rehabilitation device that is novel paired associative stimulation intervention that utilises a brain computer interface (BCI) that aims to promote neural plasticity and improve walking ability in people with stroke. The exciteBCI device augments standard rehabilitation programme. Participants wear an electroencephalography headset and an electrical muscle stimulator over the dorsiflexor or plantar flexor muscles of the ankle, or the quadriceps or hamstring muscles of the
exciteBCI is a wearable rehabilitation device that is novel paired associative stimulation intervention that utilises a brain computer interface (BCI) that aims to promote neural plasticity and improve walking ability in people with stroke. The exciteBCI device augments standard rehabilitation programme. Participants wear an electroencephalography headset and an electrical muscle stimulator over the dorsiflexor or plantar flexor muscles of the ankle, or the quadriceps or hamstring muscles of the thigh depending on the nature of the task and which muscles are prime movers for the task. An application on an ipad controls the device and provides a muscle stimulation timed with the intention to move. Part one of study: Participants are asked to attend one 90 minute session to explore the usability and acceptability of exciteBCI. Potential users of the exciteBCI will be asked to perform a number of tasks using the exciteBCI whilst engaging in a ‘think-aloud’ process. This involves verbalising their thinking, observations and opinions whilst interacting with the exciteBCI. During the session observational and video recordings are made. The participants also take part in a short semi structured interview after the usability trial. The researcher will ask questions regarding the tasks, design features, pros and cons, and suggested improvements. Part two of study: Intervention. Following the incorporation of usability feedback two participants with stroke will volunteer to participate in a standard rehabilitation programme augmented by the exciteBCI. The rehabilitation programme will be based on current evidence based practice as recommended in the NZ stroke guidelines and will include task specific training of locomotor skills supervised by a New Zealand registered physiotherapist with clinical experience in stroke rehabilitation. The task specific training will involve an increase in the task complexity over the eight 1-hour sessions over a 3-week period based on principles of motor learning. The rehabilitation workload will be progressed based on the perceived difficulty of each task. The participant will use the exciteBCI throughout the rehabilitation programme. The rehabilitation sessions will be video recorded. Following completion of the rehabilitation programme the person with stroke and the physiotherapist will take part in separate 60-90 minute semi-structured interviews. The rehabilitation programme and interviews will be carried out at AUT University.
Sponsors
Auckland University of Technology
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Stroke participants who meet the following inclusion criteria will be considered: • Aged 18 years or more • Stroke with hemiparesis affecting their ability to move their ankle Physiotherapist participants in the usability trial (part 1) will be included if: • They have 5 years’ experience in neurological rehabilitation • Are able to attend a data collection session at AUT University
Exclusion criteria
Stroke Participants will be excluded if they: • are unable to engage in the testing due to significant cognitive, perceptual or communication deficits • have had a cerebellar stroke • have another medical condition that may impact the testing or results
Outcome results
None listed