At-Home taVNS - Stroke Rehab
Development of At-Home Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Medical University of South Carolina
5 participants
Oct 28, 2024
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Early evidence suggests the benefits of post-stroke motor rehabilitation may be enhanced by applying electrical stimulation to the ear. This study aims to test the new approach of pairing ear stimulation with motor rehabilitation in the home setting in stroke survivors with upper limb motor function deficits.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- years old with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred ≥6 months prior;
- Ability to give consent;
- Unilateral limb (left or right) weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score of 19-53/60 points which indicates adequate arm/hand use for rehabilitation tasks;
- active wrist flexion/extension ≥10° with active abduction/extension of thumb and at least 1 digit ≥10° to further assure ability to participate in rehabilitation tasks;
- Passive range of motion in affected shoulder, elbow and wrist within 20 degrees of normal values.
Exclusion Criteria8
- Other concomitant neurological disorders affecting upper extremity motor function;
- Presence of Dysphagia or aspiration difficulties;
- Prior injury to vagus nerve;
- Pregnancy;
- Documented history of dementia before or after stroke;
- Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder either before or after stroke which could affect their ability to participate in the experiment;
- Uncontrolled hypertension;
- Botox injections within 4 weeks of the first day of rehabilitation therapy.
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Interventions
Each participant will complete 2 weeks, 3 times per week, task-specific training paired with transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06616831