Clinical trial NCT06598683: tDCS and Spasticity in Stroke Patients
Official title: Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Spasticity In Stroke Patients
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stroke
Keywords: Stroke
spasticity
transcranial direct current stimulation
Lead sponsor: Riphah International University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-09-19
Enrollment: 56
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 30
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Multiple research has worked on tDCS and its impact on stroke. But none have studied the effects of tDCS on stroke in relation to the different stages of stroke like mild, moderate, moderate to severe and severe stroke as per national institute of health (NIH) scale.

Additionally, this study will be conducted to address the few drawbacks in previous studies such as short follow up period by employing evidence based standardized protocols. It can potentially instigate the efficacy of tDCS on spasticity, motor recovery and Quality of life in relation to the different severity levels of stroke.

Detailed description: Multiple noninvasive brain stimulation is also introduced over the few years regarding their impact on spasticity, tDCS being the most common due to its effects on spasticity. There are multiple structural and functional changes in motor cortex post stroke, tDCS causes improvement in motor control by reorganizing the motor cortex. Anodal and cathodal tDCS are based on the current direction with cathodal decreasing excitability of the cortex area and anodal increasing it. Anodal tDCS is more effective in reducing spasticity as compared to cathodal. The change in cortical excitation alters the reflex arc i.e. altering the neurons and reducing their excitability which causes a decrease in tone and facilitates neuroplasticity.

Spasticity is often found along with weakness in stroke and is one of the reasons for impaired motor function, increased resistance to stretch and is due to increased excitability and abnormal regulation of spindle and reflex arc. With chronicity and reduced motor control spasticity also increases by 97 %. Spasticity and paresis lead to impaired motor control. Spasticity will not change recovery in function in early stages but is going to affect motor recovery in all stages. Spasticity disrupts motor function and the daily tasks which creates different levels of dependence in the patients hence effecting the QOL. Spasticity is found in almost 40% of individuals suffering from stroke. It affects joints and extremities in a way that impedes function and ADLs. Painful, restricted joints resulting from prolonged spasticity badly impacts the QOL leading to high burden on caregivers

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Stroke for more than 6 months.
* Both genders.
* Spasticity score ≥1 at modified ashworth scale.
* National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for severity level; Mild (1-4), Moderate (5-15), Moderate to Severe (16-20), Severe (21-42)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Have any metallic implant including intracranial electrode, pacemaker, surgical clip.
* Any symptoms effecting understanding of instructions.
* Any neurological disorder

Primary outcomes:
measure: Modified Ashworth Scale
timeFrame: 8 week
measure: Fugl Meyr Assessment
timeFrame: 8 week
Secondary outcomes:
measure: SS-QoL
timeFrame: 8 week
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Rawalpindi
country: Pakistan
facility: Pakistan Railway General Hospital
state: Punjab
city: Rawalpindi
country: Pakistan
facility: Pakistan Railway Hospital
state: Punjab
Study officials:
affiliation: Riphah International University
name: Mirza Obaid Baig, MSPT
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Zeng H, Chen J, Guo Y, Tan S. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Spasticity After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol. 2021 Jan 20;11:616097. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.616097. eCollection 2020.
citation: Cheng H, Fang X, Liao L, Tao Y, Gao C. Prevalence and factors influencing the occurrence of spasticity in stroke patients: a retrospective study. Neurol Res. 2023 Feb;45(2):166-172. doi: 10.1080/01616412.2022.2127249. Epub 2022 Sep 25.
citation: Lackritz H, Parmet Y, Frenkel-Toledo S, Banina MC, Soroker N, Solomon JM, Liebermann DG, Levin MF, Berman S. Effect of post-stroke spasticity on voluntary movement of the upper limb. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2021 May 13;18(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s12984-021-00876-6.
citation: Li S, Francisco GE, Rymer WZ. A New Definition of Poststroke Spasticity and the Interference of Spasticity With Motor Recovery From Acute to Chronic Stages. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2021 Jul;35(7):601-610. doi: 10.1177/15459683211011214. Epub 2021 May 12.
citation: Wang X, Ge L, Hu H, Yan L, Li L. Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Brain Sci. 2022 Jun 27;12(7):836. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12070836.