Using Cranial Nerve Non-invasive Neuromodulation to Improve Pain and Upper Extremity Function After a Stroke

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stroke
• Interventions: Procedure: Strength training intervention; Procedure: Cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM)

• Registration Number: NCT05370274
• Lead Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke

Brief Summary

Following a stroke, individuals experience pain in the affected upper limb (UL) and residual weakness in the UL, which impacts their quality of life and performance of activities of daily living. To overcome these deficits, exercises are a key element to any rehabilitation program and are based on the reorganization capacity of the central nervous system (called neuroplasticity). To optimize the beneficial effects of exercises and potentiate neuroplasticity, non-invasive brain stimulation devices (NIBS) are increasingly used as a complementary therapy post stroke. Among NIBS, a new technique, called cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), is making its way into stroke rehabilitation since, unlike other NIBS such as tDCS, it allows the generation of a direct flow of neuronal impulses via the stimulation of the tongue. The goal of this project is therefore to investigate CN-NINM to document its feasibility and explore its efficacy at improving motor recovery and reduce pain at the affected UL in chronic stroke patients (\> 6 months). CN-NINM will be applied for 20 minutes during each exercise session of the UL (3X/week, 4 weeks). Feasibility data will comprise adherence to CN-NINM, drop out rate and adverse events and UL motor recovery and pain will be assessed before and after the exercise program. At the end of this study, it is expected that it will be feasible to use CN-NINM as an intervention in combination with the exercise program and that it will result in improved motor function and reduced pain in affected UL.

Detailed Description

Following a stroke, survivors experience pain in the affected upper limb (UL) and residual weakness in the UL, which impacts their quality of life and performance of activities of daily living. Exercises is a key element of any rehabilitation program and is based on the capacity of reorganization of the central nervous system (called neuroplasticity) to allow overcoming stroke deficits. In addition, it is now recognized that in the chronic phase of a stroke, motor and functional gains are still possible following various training programs, such as a strength training program. To optimize the beneficial effects of exercise and potentiate neuroplasticity, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) devices are increasingly used as a complementary therapy. Among NIBS, the most widely used technique is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) that modulates cortical excitability and allows for clinical and functional gains, including recovering in UL motor function and pain. However, over 50% of individuals do not respond as expected to the combination of tDCS and rehabilitation exercises. This can be due to anatomical variability between individuals and electrical current shunting. Thus, to bypass these constraints, a new technique, called cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), is entering stroke rehabilitation. Unlike other NIBS such as tDCS, it generates a direct flow of neural impulses via tongue stimulation. Studies have shown that priming the motor cortex with CN-NINM during a training program can promote improved balance and gait and increased activation of the motor cortex. Until now, no studies have examined the use of CN-NINM for improving UL function and pain.

Goals: 1) To assess the feasibility of using CN-NINM in chronic stroke survivors; 2) To explore the effectiveness of CN-NINM in improving motor function and reducing pain of the affected upper limb in chronic stroke survivors.

Methods: In this feasibility pilot pre/post intervention study, 12 adults at the chronic phase of a stroke (\>6 months) will be recruited. Sociodemographic and stroke-related variables (e.g., age, time since stroke) will be collected to confirm participant eligibility. Prior to training, participants will undergo a clinical evaluation of their affected UL as well as an evaluation of simulated pain at the affected UL. For the latter, the effect of CN-NINM on pain will be evaluated using a tonic thermal experimental pain paradigm. For this, a thermode (hot plate) will be applied to the forearm of the participants before and after a single 20-minute application of CN-NINM. On each occasion, thermal nociceptive stimuli will be induced for 2 minutes on the participants' forearm using the thermode. Although the temperature remains constant for the entire 2 minutes, the participant will be informed that the temperature may increase, decrease, or remain stable during the procedure. The participant will then, at all times, evaluate the intensity of the pain with a visual analogue scale connected to a computer (CoVAS: visual analogue scale from 0 to 100). Afterwards, the participants will take part in a 4-week training program of their affected UL (3X/week, 60-minute duration). During each training session, the CN-NINM will be applied for 20 minutes at an intensity tailored to each participant comfort.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-04-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-06
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-11
• Study Start: 2022-06-27
• Primary Completion: 2023-06-21
• Study Completion: 2023-06-21
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-21
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

1. Be ≥18 years old;
2. Have had a single supratentorial stroke;
3. Be in a chronic stroke phase (>6 months);
4. Present motor recovery in the upper limb (UL) (Fugl-Meyer Stroke Assessment [FMA] score ≥20/66);
5. Have completed any rehabilitation treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

1. A significant spasticity at the affected upper limb (score > 3 on the modified Ashworth scale);
2. A major sensory deficit at the affected upper limb (a score ≤25/34 on the Nottingham Sensory Assessment and a score <6 on the evaluation of the vibration threshold);
3. A presence of hemineglect (score ≥±0. 083 on the Line Cancellation test);
4. An apraxia (score >2.5 on the Alexander Test);
5. The presence of a neurological disorder other than a stroke;
6. Concomitant orthopaedic problem at the affected UL;
7. Cognitive impairment (Mini-Cog score <2/5) and
8. Any contraindication to CN-NINM.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
strength training intervention	Strength training intervention	Strength training of the affected upper limb in chronic stroke survivors
Cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM)	Cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM)	CN-NINM will be applied during each session of the strength training intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dropped out rate of the project in percent and the reasons	Information will be assessed through project completion, an average of 9 months	Dropped out rate will be collected by the number of participants who dropped out of the project divided by the total number of participants recruited X 100%. Reasons for each drop out will also be collected.
Adherence to the intervention (training program and CN-NINM) in percent	Information will be assessed through study completion, an average of 9 months	Adherence to the intervention will be calculated by the number of training sessions completed out of the total number expected X 100%
Number of participants with CN-NINM-related adverse events as assessed by a questionnaire	Information will be be assessed through study completion, an average of 9 months	Adverse events will be assessed with a questionnaire that will provide a number and percentage of participants who have experienced adverse events as well as allowing collecting information on symptoms that may be related to CN-NINM.
Recruitment rate for the project	Information will be assessed at the end of the recruitment period, at week 28	This outcome will be compiled by the total number of participants recruited, divided by the average number of months recruiting.
Refusal to participate and the reasons	Information will be assessed throughout the project recruitment period (average of 7 months)	Participants refusal to participate will be assessed by number of participants who declined to participate in the project and the associate reasons

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in UL motor function on the Fugl-Meyer Stroke Assessment Scale	The assessments will be done at the baseline and in the week after completion of the training program and CN-NINM.	Change in motor function of the affected UL will be assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Stroke Assessment where a score of 66 is equivalent to full motor recovery.
Change in affected grip strength on the JAMAR dynamometer	The assessments will be done at the baseline and in the week after completion of the training program and CN-NINM.	Change in affected grip strength will be assessed by computing the mean of 3 trials in kilograms on the JAMAR dynamometer.
Change in participants' subjective real life functional UL performance on the Motor Activity Log	The assessments will be done at the baseline and in the week after completion of the training program and CN-NINM.	Change in participants' self-reported affected UL performance in everyday activities will be assessed with the Motor Activity Log (MAL). The MAL comprises 14 task scored on a 0 to 5 Likert scale, where a score of 5 represents normal quantity and quality of use of affected UL.
Change in pain intensity on the CoVAS	The assessments will be done at the baseline and just after the 20 minutes of application of the CN-NINM.	Change in pain intensity will be calculated by the difference between the pain felt and reported on the CoVAS (average of the 2 minutes) before and after the single application of CN-NINM. The score on the CoVAS ranges between 0 (no pain) to 100 (maximal pain).
Change in UL functional performance on the Wolf Motor Function Test	The assessments will be done at the baseline and in the week after completion of the training program and CN-NINM.	Change in functional performance of the affected UL will be assessed with the timed score of the Wolf Motor Function Test; comprising 17 tasks. The maximal time allocated to each task is 120 seconds.
Change in manual dexterity on the Box and Block test	The assessments will be done at the baseline and in the week after completion of the training program and CN-NINM.	Change in manual dexterity will be assessed with the Box and Block Test, computing the number of blocks that can be transferred from one compartment to another in 60 seconds.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement; 🇨🇦 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada