Enhancement of Use-Dependent Plasticity by Somatosensory Stimulation in Chronic Stroke

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cerebrovascular Accident

In brief

Recent studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation delivered over the skin increases the muscle strength as measured by a dynamometer in chronic stroke patients. We recently also found out that such stimulation enhances the ability of healthy brains to learn faster, enhancing the beneficial effects of the motor training. The purpose of this study is to find out if this stimulation can enhance the ability of stroke patients to experience plastic changes in the brain. It may aid in the development of new strategies for rehabilitation after brain injury in the future. A clinical and neurological exam will be administered. Each patient will participate in three different sessions separated by at least 48 hours: a 2-hour peripheral nerve stimulation to the weak hand, a 2-hour peripheral nerve stimulation to the leg, and no stimulation. The sessions will be randomly ordered. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain will be done as well. Nerve stimulation will be done by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In TMS, the head is immobilized within a frame. An insulated coil wire is placed on the scalp and brief electrical current passed through it. Participants may be asked to perform movements, do simple tasks, or simply tense muscles. Electrical activity of the muscles will be recorded with a computer. Some experiments may be recorded on videotape. Participants must be stroke patients who have recovered to the point of being able to make thumb movements, and the stroke must have occurred more than 6 months ago.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00028379

Run by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

People needed

52

Starts

2001-12-01

Expected to finish

2005-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Hemiparetic patients (right or left who had thromboembolic non-hemorrhagic infarction (documented by CT or MRI) more than 6 months before. Patients should have recovered motor function to the point of being able to perform thumb movements.
• Patients will be recruited from referrals from the community, particularly Baltimore and Washington VA hospitals, and Suburban Hospital as well as stroke clubs. An anatomical MRI scan will be acquired at the NIH if a recent one (within 6 months) is not available.

You may not qualify if…

• Large hemorrhagic or brain stem stroke.
• Multiple cerebral lesions with residual deficits.
• History of head injury with loss of consciousness.
• History of severe alcohol or drug abuse.
• History of psychiatric illness.
• Unstable cardiac dysrhythmia or unresponsive arterial hypertension (greater than 160/100 mmHg).
• H/o hyperthyroidism.
• Receiving alpha-adrenergic antagonists or agonists, major/minor tranquilizers, clonidine,prazosin, phenytoin, benzodiazepines, scopolamine, haloperidol, other neuroleptics, barbiturates.
• Degree of aphasia or cognitive deficit that makes patient unable to give informed consent.
• Pregnancy, glaucoma, h/o hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to sympatomimetic drugs.

Where it is running

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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