Post Stroke Hand Functions: Bilateral Movements and Electrical Stimulation Treatments
Condition: Cerebrovascular Accident; Hemiplegia
MeSH terms: Stroke; Hemiplegia
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two amounts of treatment therapy on
      post stroke motor recovery in the arms. The therapy is bilateral movement training combined
      with electrical stimulation on the impaired limb.
    

Detailed description: 
      Intense movement training (practice) with the affected arm after stroke has the potential to
      improve upper extremity (UE) function resulting from neuroplasticity changes in the motor
      cortex. However, the necessary and sufficient parameters of this therapy in humans have not
      been fully investigated. Delineation of the most efficacious and efficient therapy for
      promoting UE recovery post-stroke is necessary before effective clinical implementation of
      this therapy. The current compared the effects on motor function impairments for three
      bilateral movement groups involving two doses of treatment (i.e., bilateral training coupled
      with neuromuscular electrical stimulation) and a sham control. During the subacute recovery
      phase (3 - 6 months), patients who meet motor capabilities criteria will be randomly assigned
      to one of three groups: (a) low intensity: 90 minutes/session, 2 sessions/week 2 weeks;
      bilateral movement training coupled with active neuromuscular stimulation on the impaired
      wrist/fingers; (b) high intensity: 90 minutes/session, 4 sessions/week for 2 weeks; bilateral
      movement training coupled with active stimulation on the impaired wrist/finger extensors; and
      (c) control group (sham active stimulation). Patients' UE motor capabilities were assessed
      before treatment therapy began (pretest) and within the first week after the treatment
      therapy ended (posttest).
    

Intervention name(s): Bilateral movements and neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Bilateral movements and neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Bilateral movements and sham electrical stimulation
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants practice moving their paretic arm at the same time as they move their non-paretic arm in the same movement patterns. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation triggered by the participants' own contracting muscles is provided to the paretic arm during the movements. Training period was 4 times per week for 2 weeks.; Participants practice moving both their paretic and non-paretic arms at the same time in the same movement patterns. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation triggered by the participants' own contracting muscles is provided to the paretic arm during the movements. Training period was 2 times per week for 2 weeks.; Participants practice moving both their paretic and non-paretic arms at the same time in the same movement patterns. Sham electrical stimulation (low level electrical stimulation that can be felt but is insufficient to trigger a muscle contraction) is provided to the paretic arm during the movement. Training period was 2 times per week for 2 weeks.
Other intervention name(s): functional electrical stimulation; functional electrical stimulation; functional electrical stimulation - sham
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy Techniques; Occupational Therapy; Upper Extremity; Motor skills