Contralaterally Controlled FES Plus Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Hand Motor Control After Stroke: A Pilot Study
MetroHealth Medical Center
Summary
This pilot study for stroke patients with chronic upper limb hemiplegia will examine the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on hand motor control and corticospinal excitability. Specifically, this study will investigate the effects of timing and delivery of tDCS in conjunction with contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 21 2. ≥ 6 months since first clinical hemorrhagic or nonhemorrhagic stroke 3. Able to follow 3-stage commands and remember 2 of 3 items after 30 minutes 4. Full volitional elbow extension/flexion and hand opening/closing of unaffected limb 5. Adequate active movement of shoulder and elbow to position the paretic hand in the workspace for table-top task practice 6. Patient must be able to sit unassisted in an armless straight-back chair for the duration of the screening portion of the eligibility assessment 7. Medically stable 8. ≥ 10° finger extension 9. Unilatera…
Interventions
- Devicetranscranial direct current stimulation and electrical stimulator
Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation: An electrical stimulator will be used to deliver electrical current through surface electrodes to produce hand opening by making the paretic finger and thumb extensor muscles contract. The stimulator will be programmed to deliver stimulation with an intensity that corresponds to the opening of a glove instrumented with sensors and plugged into the stimulator (i.e., CCFES). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): TDCS is a method of noninvasive stimulation of the brain. Using electrodes placed in saline-soaked sponges, low level of direct current (1mA) is delivered over the scalp. This intervention is considered safe and noninvasive because it does not involve implantation or injection or any skin penetration.
Location
- MetroHealth Medical CenterCleveland, Ohio