Feasibility and Efficacy of Home-Based Functional Electrical Stimulation and Task-Specific Training in Adults With Chronic Stroke
University of Illinois at Chicago
Summary
This project will examine the feasibility, safety and effect of home-based functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to different lower limb muscles in combination with task-specific training on gait, balance and mobility in adults with chronic stroke. 30 individuals with chronic stroke will first undergo initial screening and baseline walking, mobility, balance and strength assessments in the laboratory. After determining their eligibility for the study, they will undergo 12-weeks of home-based FES and task-specific training. Following the initial screening (week 1) and pre-intervention assessment (week 2), participants will be trained in the lab for 6 sessions (week 3-4) for a FES home program and then given a FES home kit (FES device and an android tablet). Participants will then undergo home-training for 2 weeks (week 5-6) followed by mid-training assessment (week 7). Again, participants will undergo 4-weeks of home training (week 8-11) and final assessment at the end of training (week 12). This project has the following specific aims: Aim 1: To investigate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of 12-weeks of home-based FES and task-specific training in adults with chronic stroke. Aim 2: To examine the effect of 12-weeks of home-based FES and task-specific training on mobility, gait and balance (anticipatory and reactive balance) in adults with chronic stroke.
Description
BACKGROUND/SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE: Functional impairment after a stroke often includes slowed gait velocity and increased fall risk attributed to foot drop (the inability to dorsiflex the ankle during the swing phase of gait) and lower limb muscle weakness. Damage in the motor cortex or corticospinal tract often results in significant, persistent distal muscle weakness including the sensorimotor control of the ankle joint, typically because of a combination of weakness of the agonist ankle dorsiflexor muscles and spasticity of the antagonist plantarflexor muscle. This results in slower and abnor…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age group: 18-90 years. 2. Presence of unilateral hemiparesis. 3. Onset of stroke (\> 6 months). 4. Ability to walk independently with or without an assistive device for at least 300 ft. 5. Can understand and communicate in English and can verbalize discomfort or pain in English 6. Use of smartphone on a daily basis 7. Availability of internet/Wi-Fi at home Exclusion Criteria: 1. Body weight more than 250 lbs. 2. Heel bone density measurement using an ultrasound device. Individuals classified as osteoporotic (i.e., with a T-score \< -2) will be excluded. 3. Cognitive…
Interventions
- DeviceFunctional Electrical Stimulation
12-weeks of training sessions that include initial screening and clinical assessment (Week 1-2), onsite training sessions (Week 3-4), home training sessions (Week 4-8). There will also be pre (Week 1), mid (Week 7) and post-training (Week 12) assessment. Each session will consist of a 10-minute warm-up session with 5-6 stretching exercises. Warm-up will be followed by a 30 minute training session comprising of mobility, balance and walking exercises with FES. This will be followed by a cool down session for 10-minutes comprising of 5-6 muscle stretches. The participant will first watch video of the each exercise on the android tablet and then perform the exercises.
Location
- University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, Illinois