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Brain and Coordination Changes Induced By Robotics and FES Treatment Following Stroke

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cerebral Stroke
Cerebrovascular Accident
Stroke
Interventions
Device: Robotics training for shoulder elbow.
Device: Surface Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation
Other: whole arm motor learning
Registration Number
NCT00237744
Lead Sponsor
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Brief Summary

The long-range goal of this work is to identify how to target treatment so that the brain is functionally re-organized to produce movement. This study will compare treatment response to robotics versus functional neuromuscular stimulation.

Detailed Description

Methods. Up to ninety-six chronic stroke subjects (\> 12 months post stroke) will be randomized to one of the treatment groups: Wrist/hand Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)+whole arm motor learning group; shoulder/elbow robotics + whole arm motor learning group; and whole arm motor learning group. For all groups, treatment will offered 5 hrs/day, 5 days/week, for 12 weeks. All three treatment groups will receive motor learning therapy. For the Wrist/hand FES+whole arm motor learning group, there will be the addition of FES during treatment. For the Shoulder/elbow robotics + whole arm motor learning group there will be the addition of robotics training. Outcome measures will be collected at weeks 1, 6, 12, and three months after the end of treatment. Measures will include muscle strength (Manual Muscle Testing); coordination of joint movement (Fugl-Meyer Coordination Scale); motor control of target acquisition, pathway maintenance; and smoothness of movement (robotics measures); performance of 13 functional tasks (Arm Motor Ability Test); and quality of life (Stroke Impact Scale). Measures of brain function will be non-invasive and will include cognitive planning time, cognitive effort level, and location of brain activity during simple shoulder and arm movements. Changes in brain function measures will reflect plasticity or adaptability in response to treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Medically stable and at least 12 months post stroke.
  • Difficulty using upper limb for functional tasks.
  • Age >21 years
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Exclusion Criteria

uncontrolled, chronic medical condition

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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Shoulder/Elbow Robotics + Whole Arm Motor LearningRobotics training for shoulder elbow.Subjects\>6 months following first stroke with diminished upper limb strength, coordination and function, who received whole arm motor learning and shoulder/elbow robotics.
Wrist/Hand FES + Whole Arm Motor Learningwhole arm motor learningSubjects \> 6 months following first stroke with diminished upper limb strength, coordination and function, who received whole arm motor learning training and FES of the wrist/hand.
Wrist/Hand FES + Whole Arm Motor LearningSurface Functional Neuromuscular StimulationSubjects \> 6 months following first stroke with diminished upper limb strength, coordination and function, who received whole arm motor learning training and FES of the wrist/hand.
Whole Arm Motor Learningwhole arm motor learningSubjects\>6 months following first stroke with diminished upper limb strength, coordination and function who received whole arm motor learning training without addition of FES or Robotics
Shoulder/Elbow Robotics + Whole Arm Motor Learningwhole arm motor learningSubjects\>6 months following first stroke with diminished upper limb strength, coordination and function, who received whole arm motor learning and shoulder/elbow robotics.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
AMATprior to treatment and following 3 months of treatment

The AMAT is a measure of complex functional task performance of a variety of specified tasks and is measured in seconds summed across the various tasks. A higher score is indicative of decreased performance on the measure. A max score of 3000 seconds would indicate inability to perform any portion of the test.

M1 Activation Absolute Change Scoreat baseline and following 3 months of treatment

A measure of brain activation change in the area of M1 following intervention (pre to post intervention). A number greater than 0 indicates a change in brain activation in the area of M1. The maximum voxel activation for a healthy adult in the studied region of Interest (M1) is 659.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA Medical Center, Cleveland

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

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