Effect of Neural Constraints on Movement in Stroke
Northwestern University
Summary
This study investigates the effects of Tizanidine on the voluntary movement controls of the arms of participants who have had a stroke and have not had a stroke by measuring medication-induced changes in upper extremity kinematics, pupillometry, and brain activity. Tizanidine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Understanding how different areas of the brain are involved in movement impairments may help rehabilitation efforts and assist in restoring healthy movement in individuals who have had a stroke.
Description
Sixty-four individuals with stroke will be recruited. Efforts will be made to recruit the same participants for each protocol. A REDCap database for this study will be setup to manage every step involved in the protocol. The experiment uses a two-arm, cross-over, double-blinded, pre-test-post-test, randomized controlled design. After confirming eligibility, all enrolled participants will be scheduled for one anatomic brain MRI data collection and 6 arm/ hand experiments: 2 for each aim, one with TIZ and the other with placebo. All experiments will take place on separate days at least one week…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * History of unilateral supratentorial ischemic stroke that occurred at least six months prior to enrollment * Age between 18-80 * Paresis confined to one side, with substantial motor impairment of the upper limb and some residual voluntary movement (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment in the range of 15-45/66, Chedoke McMaster Stroke Assessment Hand section \<=4) * Ability to communicate, understand, and provide informed consent * Ability to elevate their limb against gravity up to at least 75 degrees of shoulder flexion and to generate active elbow extension * MRI comp…
Interventions
- DrugTizanidine
Tizanidine (TIZ) (Zanaflex®) is a centrally acting noradrenergic α-2 agonist and a ligand of I3 (non-I1/I2) imidazoline receptors. It is currently indicated for the management of spasticity.
- DrugPlacebo
Administered as control
Location
- Northwestern University, Dept. of PTHMS 645 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1100Chicago, Illinois