Development of At-Home Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Medical University of South Carolina
Summary
Early evidence suggests the benefits of post-stroke motor rehabilitation may be enhanced by applying electrical stimulation to the ear. This study aims to test the new approach of pairing ear stimulation with motor rehabilitation in the home setting in stroke survivors with upper limb motor function deficits.
Description
This study seeks to advance prior research conducted here at MUSC exploring the use of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with motor rehabilitation to improve motor function post-stroke. Early evidence from a recently completed NIH-funded, clinical trial suggests that our new approach of delivering electrical stimulation to the ear at the same time as motor rehabilitation double the clinical benefits of motor rehabilitation. These benefits are due in part to a facilitation of neuroplasticity caused by activating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This projec…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-80 years old with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred ≥6 months prior; * Ability to give consent; * Unilateral limb (left or right) weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score of 19-53/60 points which indicates adequate arm/hand use for rehabilitation tasks; * active wrist flexion/extension ≥10° with active abduction/extension of thumb and at least 1 digit ≥10° to further assure ability to participate in rehabilitation tasks; * Passive range of motion in affected shoulder, elbow and wrist within 20 degrees of normal values. Exclusion Criteria: *…
Interventions
- DeviceRemote Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Paired with Task-Specific Training
Each participant will complete 2 weeks, 3 times per week, task-specific training paired with transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation.
Location
- Medical University of South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina