Grasping Rehabilitation With Functional Electrical Stimulation Garment

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Stroke; Spinal Cord Injuries
• Interventions: Procedure: Functional Electrical Stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT03658798
• Lead Sponsor: Milos Popovic

Brief Summary

This study tests the feasibility, safety and efficacy of garments embedding conductive electrodes (FES-shirt) for the independent delivery of functional electrical stimulation (FES). 12 people with SCI and 12 people with stroke who have some degree of arm paralysis will receive 40 hours of FES with these FES-shirt. The ability to use the FES-shirts and the improvement in function while receiving FES will indicate the immediate benefits. Their functional capabilities will be measured before and after 40 FES sessions to evaluate the carry-over effects.

Detailed Description

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke can result in paralysis of arm and hand muscles preventing people from being able to use them in day to day activities, which can greatly impact quality of life. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can activate the paralyzed muscles by sending a low energy electrical current through the skin. FES has been shown to improve the ability to control muscles in previous studies.In current simulators individual adhesive gel electrodes are positioned on the appropriate muscles to produce functional movements.This is time consuming and requires a therapist to guide electrode placement,besides the cables interfere with the individuals ability to perform functional movements with the FES.To approach this issue, we designed prototype shirts embedding all the necessary electrodes and wires to stimulate muscles around the hand, elbow and shoulder.

24 individuals with difficulty performing routine day to day activities with their upper extremities will be recruited to the study: 12 people with SCI and 12 people with stroke. Each participant will receive a custom designed FES shirt made based on individual participant body measurements and optimal electrode positions identified with standard gel electrodes.Study participants will receive 40 sessions of intervention, 3 to 5 times a week over 2 to 3 months. Each session will be one hour in duration and participant will receive functional electrical stimulation therapy through this customized shirt. They will have to don, activate, and doff the garment as independently as possible. The exercises conducted will be defined by the investigator based on the functional status of the participant and eventual progress.

Participants will be evaluated before and after the intervention using functional tests and questionnaires Participants will be invited to give their opinions on the shirt so that the researchers can improve its features.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-10-02
• Study First Submitted: 2018-06-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-08-31
• Study First Posted: 2018-09-05
• Status Verified: 2022-09
• Primary Completion: 2022-09-12
• Study Completion: 2022-09-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-09-12
• Last Update Posted: 2022-09-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 8

Inclusion Criteria

• Complete and Incomplete C4-C7 SCI or brain vascular stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic)
• Upper-limb paralysis to the extent that it interferes with the participants ability to perform activities of daily living independently.
• More than 6 months post injury at the time of recruitment and should have been discharged from initial post-acute rehabilitation
• Able to communicate verbally and read in English

Exclusion Criteria

• Implanted electronic devices such as: defibrillator, stimulator, insulin pump, baclofen pump, pace maker
• Contracture and/or pain preventing shoulder elevation above 90 degrees.
• Body mass index > 30 kg/m2 (severe obesity)
• Known abdominal or aortic aneurysm
• Known atrial of ventricular arrhythmia, unstable hypertension,
• Diabetes with a history of recurrent hypoglycemic episodes
• Cognitive impairments, such as co-morbid brain injury, depression, and/or mental illness preventing an active participation in the study
• Known contact allergy to silver
• Grade three pressure sore or cellulitis in the region intended to be tested
• Body jewelry or tattoos in the area to be stimulated (between sites of the electrodes and/or at less than 2 inch distance from electrodes).

Specifically for participants with SCI:

• Recurrent episodes of orthostatic hypotension preventing a prolonged seated position, or recurrent uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia episodes
• Prior history of myocardial infarction or stroke

Specifically for participants with Stroke:

• Hemianopia, body hemineglect and/or aphasia preventing an efficient communication with researcher and interaction with the garment and the objects.
• Prior history of spinal cord injury

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
FES-Garment	Functional Electrical Stimulation	All participants will take part in 40 sessions of 1 hour of Functional Electrical Stimulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Wolf Motor Function Test	End study, after 14 weeks on average	For participants who had a stroke. A series of movement and object manipulations video-taped, timed, and rated for their quality of execution and success.; Re-measured after the participant completed the 40 sessions
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Hand Function Test	End study, after 14 weeks on average	For participants who had a spinal cord injury. A series of movement and object manipulations video-taped, timed, and rated for their quality of execution and success.; Re-measured after the participant completed the 40 sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Execution of the training tasks with FES	During the procedure	Record in the CRF of the weight of bottle lifted at shoulder level while receiving FES.
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)	End study, after 14 weeks on average	The FIM is a 12 item ordinal scale used to assess progress during rehabilitation and measures independent performance in various domains of activities of daily living.; FIM score ranges from 12 to 84 FIM will be administered only in participants with Stroke. Re-measured after the participant completed the 40 sessions
Execution of the training tasks without FES	During the procedure	Record in the case report form (CRF) of the highest weight of bottle lifted at shoulder level without delivery of FES.
Spinal Cord Independence Measure	End study, after 14 weeks on average	SCIM is a disability scale that has been specifically developed to evaluate functional outcomes in patients with SCI. It assess function in three core areas 1. Self care 2.Respiration and 3.Mobility.; The SCIM scores range from 0 to 100 points. SCIM will be administered only in participants with SCI. Re-measured after the participant completed the 40 sessions
Grip strength	End study, after 14 weeks on average	Average of the 3 maximal grip strength recorded with a Digital Grip Hand Dynamometer. Re-measured after the participant completed the 40 sessions For both group.
Set-up time	During the procedure	Record with a stop watch the time required to 1. put on the FES-garment, 2. wet the electrodes, and 3. select the appropriate stimulation intensity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada