Wearable MCI to Reduce Muscle Co-activation in Acute and Chronic Stroke

Conditions

Stroke, Stroke, Acute

Keywords

rehabilitation

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to explore the feasibility of using a wearable device, called a myoelectric-computer interface (MCI), to improve arm movement in people who have had a stroke. Impaired arm movement after stroke is caused not just by weakness, but also by impaired coordination between joints due to abnormal co-activation of muscles. These abnormal co-activation patterns are thought to be due to abnormal movement planning.The MCI aims to reduce abnormal co-activation by providing feedback about individual muscle activations. This randomized, controlled, blinded study will test the home use of an MCI in chronic and acute stroke survivors.

Khorasani A, Gorski CM, Hung NT, Hulsizer J, Paul V, Tomic G, Prakash PR, Park S, Seo G, Houskamp EJ, Lanis J, Hunzeker M, King E, Chappel A, Jampol A, Patel P, Gallagher C, Galant R, Rucker G, Lee J, Harvey RL, Roh J, Slutzky MW.

2026-06-08

10.1177/15459683261454937

Myoelectric interface for neurorehabilitation conditioning to reduce abnormal leg co-activation after stroke: a pilot study.

Khorasani A, Hulsizer J, Paul V, Gorski C, Dhaher YY, Slutzky MW.

2024-01-204 citations

10.1186/s12984-024-01305-0

Wearable myoelectric interface enables high‐dose, home‐based training in severely impaired chronic stroke survivors

Na‐Teng Hung, Vivek Paul, Prashanth Prakash, Torin Kovach, Gene Tacy et al. (13 authors)

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology2021-08-2029 citations

10.1002/acn3.51442

Interventions

BEHAVIORALMCI

EMG-controlled game

BEHAVIORALSham MCI

Sham control game

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Participants will be blinded as to sham vs. intervention, but not as to which interventional arm.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

21 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

No

Inclusion criteria

Chronic stroke participants * Hemiparesis from first ever stroke at least 6 months prior to screening * Severe motor impairment (FMA of 7-30) * At least some voluntary shoulder and elbow muscle activation. Acute stroke participants * Hemiparesis from first ever stroke within the past 21 days * Severe motor impairment (FMA of 3-20), or total Manual Motor Score of 1-8 combined in Shoulder Abduction and Finger Extensors

Exclusion criteria

* Cognitive impairment with at least moderately impaired attention, or unable to follow instructions of the MCI task * Visual impairment (such as hemianopia) preventing full view of the screen * Anesthesia or neglect in the affected arm, or visual hemineglect (score of 2 on the NIH Stroke Scale Extinction and Inattention subtest). * Participation in another study on the affected arm within 6 weeks of enrollment or any pharmacological study * Inability to understand or follow commands in English due to aphasia or other reason * Diffuse or multifocal infarcts * Substantial arm pain preventing participation for 90 minutes a day * New spasticity treatment (pharmacological or Botox)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Wolf Motor Function Test	baseline to 6 weeks	Timed

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (UE)	baseline to 6 weeks	—
Motor Activity Log	baseline to 6 weeks	—
Modified Ashworth Scale	baseline to 6 weeks	Total score
Fugl-Meyer Assessment UE	baseline to 10 weeks	—
Wolf Motor Function Test	baseline to 10 weeks	Timed

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTMarc W Slutzky, MD, PhD

mslutzky@northwestern.edu3125034653

CONTACTCynthia Gorski

cynthia.gorski@northwestern.edu

Outcome results

None listed