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Functional Connectivity & Stimulation-enhanced Therapy Post Stroke

Brain Functional Connectivity & Sensory Stimulation-enhanced Therapy Post Stroke

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03473808
Enrollment
5
Registered
2018-03-22
Start date
2018-03-07
Completion date
2018-09-24
Last updated
2019-03-05

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

Conditions

Stroke

Keywords

Hand Function, Occupational Therapy, Physical Stimulation

Brief summary

After stroke, it is common for individuals to experience hand impairment. This deficit can severely restrict functional ability and independence. Recovery of hand function following stroke is highly variable. In this study, the investigators will use brain imaging to predict individual response to treatment. Survivors of stroke will receive upper extremity therapy while they concurrently receive imperceptible vibration to the wrist aimed to enhance therapy outcomes.

Detailed description

The ability to predict individuals' responses to treatment can enable effective allocation of a treatment to likely responders. The long-term goal is to determine whether acute changes in brain functional connectivity immediately after one treatment session can predict ultimate gains in motor function after completing multiple treatment sessions. The objective of this study is to determine feasibility and to examine association between change in brain functional connectivity after one session and motor gains after completion of all treatment sessions. This study is a prospective single-cohort longitudinal study. The treatment is task-practice therapy (3d/wk, 18-session) accompanied with concurrent imperceptible wrist vibration that is intended to prime the cortical sensorimotor network and enhance hand functional recovery in chronic stroke survivors. Hand function will be assessed before/after therapy and at 1-month follow-up. Connectivity will be assessed using fMRI and EEG before and after a treatment session.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALtask-practice therapy

Standardized hand therapy program

OTHERVibration

Peripheral vibration applied to the wrist skin at an imperceptible level

Sponsors

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Delaware
CollaboratorOTHER
Medical University of South Carolina
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age = 18 or older * At least 6 months post-stroke * Moderate upper limb impairment with the ability to participate in hand task practices * Fingertip touch sensory deficits (e.g., Monofilament\>2.83, 2-point discrimination\>5mm, sense of numbness, tingling)

Exclusion criteria

* Complete upper limb deafferentation * Rigidity (Modified Ashworth Scale=5) * Botulinum toxin injection within 3 months prior to enrollment or during enrollment * Brainstem stroke * Comorbidity (peripheral neuropathy, orthopaedic conditions in the hand that limit ranges of motion, premorbid neurologic conditions, compromised skin integrity of the hand/wrist due to long-term use of blood thinners) * Concurrent upper extremity rehabilitation therapy * Language barrier or cognitive impairment that precludes following instructions or providing consent * MRI incompatible.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean Change in Hand Motor FunctionBaseline to approximately 1 week after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.Change in hand motor function as measured by the Box and Block Test. The test measures the number of blocks that a participant moves within one minute. The scale ranges from 0 to a positive number. Higher numbers represent better outcomes.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean Change in Hand Motor FunctionBaseline to approximately 1 week after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.Change in hand motor function as measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test Time. This test measures time to complete upper extremity movements in seconds. More negative values represent a greater reduction in time, thus better outcomes.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Therapy + Vibration
Imperceptible vibration applied to the wrist during a standardized hand task practice therapy program. Task-Practice Therapy: Standardized hand therapy program Vibration: Peripheral vibration applied to the wrist skin at an imperceptible level
5
Total5

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTherapy + Vibration
Age, Continuous70 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.18
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 5
other
Total, other adverse events
4 / 5
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 5

Outcome results

Primary

Mean Change in Hand Motor Function

Change in hand motor function as measured by the Box and Block Test. The test measures the number of blocks that a participant moves within one minute. The scale ranges from 0 to a positive number. Higher numbers represent better outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline to approximately 1 week after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Therapy + VibrationMean Change in Hand Motor Function0.83 blocksStandard Deviation 3.09
Primary

Mean Change in Hand Motor Function

Change in hand motor function as measured by the Box and Block Test. The test measures the number of blocks that a participant moves within one minute. The scale ranges from 0 to a positive number. Higher numbers represent better outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline to approximately 4 weeks after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Therapy + VibrationMean Change in Hand Motor Function0.21 blocksStandard Deviation 1.18
Secondary

Mean Change in Hand Motor Function

Change in hand motor function as measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test Time. This test measures time to complete upper extremity movements in seconds. More negative values represent a greater reduction in time, thus better outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline to approximately 1 week after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Therapy + VibrationMean Change in Hand Motor Function-10.09 secondsStandard Deviation 3.66
Secondary

Mean Change in Hand Motor Function

Change in hand motor function as measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test Time. This test measures time to complete upper extremity movements in seconds. More negative values represent a greater reduction in time, thus better outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline to approximately 4 weeks after the completion of 18 therapy sessions.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Therapy + VibrationMean Change in Hand Motor Function-14.24 secondsStandard Deviation 5.51

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026