RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT03298243

Use of Sensory Substitution to Improve Arm Control After Stroke

Augmenting Kinesthetic Feedback to Improve Hemiparetic Arm Control After Stroke

Sponsor

Marquette University

Enrollment

30 participants

Start Date

Jul 17, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Stroke Proprioceptive Disorders

Summary

Supplementing or augmenting sensory information to those who have lost proprioception after stroke could help improve functional control of the arm. Thirty subjects will be recruited to a single site to evaluate the ability of supplemental kinesthetic feedback (a form of vibrotactile stimulation) to improve motor function. Participants will be tested in performing reaching movements as well as more functional tasks such as simulated drinking from a glass

Eligibility

Min Age: 21 Years

Inclusion Criteria7

stroke survivors who can perform our stabilization and grip modulation tasks and who
had a single ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the chronic state of recovery (\> 6 months post-stroke).
ability to give informed consent and be able to follow two-stage instructions.
mild-to-moderate motor impairment as assessed using the upper extremity (UE) portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FM); i.e., UE-FM score between 28 and 50 (inclusive) out of a possible 66.
proprioceptive deficit at the elbow in the more involved (contralesional) arm.
preserved tactile sensation in either the ipsilesional arm and/or thigh.
a minimal active wrist extension of 5°.

Exclusion Criteria12

Inability of subjects to give informed consent or follow two-stage instructions.
subjects with a bleeding disorder.
subjects with fixed contractures or a history of tendon transfer in the involved limb.
subjects with a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or any disease that might interfere with neuromuscular function.
subjects who are currently using or under the influence of aminoglycoside antibiotics, curare-like agents, or other agents that may interfere with neuromuscular function.
subjects with a history of epilepsy.
history of other psychiatric co-morbidities (e.g. schizophrenia).
malignant or benign intra-axial neoplasms.
concurrent illness limiting the capacity to conform to study requirements.
Cardiac pacemaker, cardiac arrhythmia or history of significant cardiovascular or respiratory compromise.
subjects with profound atrophy or excessive weakness of muscles in the target area(s) of testing.
subjects with a systemic infection.