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Physiological and Functional Effects of Percutaneous Neuromodulation vs Transcutaneous Neuromodulation

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Stroke/Brain Attack
Interventions
Device: Transcutaneous neuromodulation
Device: Placebo-transcutaneous
Device: Percutaneous neuromodulation
Device: Placebo-percutaneous
Device: Percutaneous neuromodulation or Transcutaneous neuromodulation (optional)
Registration Number
NCT06365931
Lead Sponsor
University of Extremadura
Brief Summary

INTRODUCTION: Clubfoot, drop foot or clubfoot, is a disorder that prevents reaching 100º of dorsiflexion actively. Its etiology is varied, and may be due to congenital problems, direct alteration of the bone structure, spasticity or shortening of the posterior musculature (triceps suralis), a neurological factor or a combination of several. Thus, we can differentiate between congenital clubfoot and acquired clubfoot. Stroke is one of the main causes of acquired clubfoot, which is due to paralysis of the dorsiflexor musculature and/or spasticity of the plantar flexor musculature. Electrical stimulation is able to increase muscle activation by depolarization of the motor plate and modulation of nerve conduction. This can be done transcutaneously, through surface electrodes or percutaneously through needles, so neuromodulation is presented as a tool applicable to the pathology of the equine foot, if we take into account the increased activation of the dorsiflexors of the foot.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective is to evaluate which of the techniques, percutaneous or transcutaneous, is more effective for the approach of clubfoot in post-stroke patients.

METHODOLOGY: a clinical trial with randomized probabilistic assignment in four groups is proposed: G1 (percutaneous neuromodulation): patients will receive a needle circuit approaching the deep peroneal nerve in an ultrasound-guided manner. They will receive a 20-30Hz symmetrical biphasic current; G2 (transcutaneous neuromodulation): patients will have a superficial electrode circuit placed over the belly of the tibialis anterior muscle. They will receive a symmetrical biphasic current of 20-30Hz; G3 (placebo-percutaneous group): in which the patients will receive the neuromodulation circuit with needles at 0 intensity; G2 (placebo-transcutaneous group): the patients will receive the electrodes at 0 intensity over the belly of the tibialis anterior muscle.

The variables to be analyzed are: anthropometric variables (age, weight, height, BMI), muscle oxygenation (SatO2, O2Hb, HHb and THb), muscle strength of the foot dorsiflexors measured with dynamometer, muscle activation by surface electromyography, active and passive joint balance with goniometry or inclinometer, assessment of gait and balance, assessment of load distribution by static and dynamic pressure platform, spasticity and questionnaire on quality of life and functionality. The acute effects after one intervention session (pre-post intervention of one session) and the effects after a 10-session program will be analyzed.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age between 18 and 65 years old.
  • Have had a stroke or brain damage acquired at least 1 year ago.
  • Have a muscle balance in the dorsiflexor musculature of the foot less than or equal to 3/5 on the Daniels scale.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contraindication to electrotherapy.
  • Needle phobia or panic (in the case of having been assigned to the percutaneous group).
  • Severe cognitive impairment that prevents collaboration in the performance of the activity.
  • Failure to meet the inclusion criteria.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
G1 (percutaneous neuromodulation)Percutaneous neuromodulation or Transcutaneous neuromodulation (optional)Patients will receive a needle circuit approaching the deep peroneal nerve in an ultrasound-guided manner. They will receive a symmetrical biphasic current of 20-30Hz and 250 μs at tolerable intensity.
G2 (transcutaneous neuromodulation)Transcutaneous neuromodulationPatients will have a superficial electrode circuit placed over the belly of the tibialis anterior muscle. They will receive a symmetrical biphasic current of 20-30Hz and 250 μs at tolerable intensity.
G3 (placebo-percutaneous group)Percutaneous neuromodulation or Transcutaneous neuromodulation (optional)Patients will receive the neuromodulation circuit with needles at 0 intensity, approaching the deep peroneal nerve in an ultrasound-guided manner
G4 (placebo-transcutaneous group)Placebo-transcutaneousPatients will have the electrodes placed over the tibialis anterior muscle at intensity 0.
G1 (percutaneous neuromodulation)Percutaneous neuromodulationPatients will receive a needle circuit approaching the deep peroneal nerve in an ultrasound-guided manner. They will receive a symmetrical biphasic current of 20-30Hz and 250 μs at tolerable intensity.
G4 (placebo-transcutaneous group)Percutaneous neuromodulation or Transcutaneous neuromodulation (optional)Patients will have the electrodes placed over the tibialis anterior muscle at intensity 0.
G2 (transcutaneous neuromodulation)Percutaneous neuromodulation or Transcutaneous neuromodulation (optional)Patients will have a superficial electrode circuit placed over the belly of the tibialis anterior muscle. They will receive a symmetrical biphasic current of 20-30Hz and 250 μs at tolerable intensity.
G3 (placebo-percutaneous group)Placebo-percutaneousPatients will receive the neuromodulation circuit with needles at 0 intensity, approaching the deep peroneal nerve in an ultrasound-guided manner
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Gait1 day

10 minutes walking test

Muscle activity1 day

MDurance surface electromyography

Displacement of the center of pressures (CoP)1 day

Postural stability: baropodometric platform

Tissue oxygen in muscle1 day

Oximeter. Moxy-3 in the thigh

Muscular strength1 day

Tibialis anterior strength by dynamometry

Articular amplitude1 day

Dorsal flexion using goniometer

Balance1 day

Tinetti scale: The test is divided into two parts, the assessment of balance on the one hand and gait on the other. To do this we will ask the patient different movements and activities that we will score from 0 to 2, depending on the section, being the maximum score in the balance 16 points and 12 points in the gait.

Functionality1 day

ECVI-38 scale (Quality of Life Scale for Stroke): 38 items hypothetically grouped into eight domains: physical state, communication, cognition, emotions, feelings, basic activities of daily living, common activities of daily living, and socio-familial functions.; plus two additional questions on sexual function and work activity.

quality of life index1 day

ECVI-38 scale (Quality of Life Scale for Stroke): 38 items hypothetically grouped into eight domains: physical state, communication, cognition, emotions, feelings, basic activities of daily living, common activities of daily living, and socio-familial functions.; plus two additional questions on sexual function and work activity.

Spasticity1 day

Ashworth scale: scale from 0 to 4. 0 means mild muscle tone and 4 means high hypertonicity.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mª Dolores Apolo Arenas

🇪🇸

Badajoz, Spain

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