The Application of Thermal Stimulation on Functional Recovery of Stroke Patients

Summary

In literature review, thermal stimulation (TS) intervention is effective in facilitating upper extremity functional recovery in stroke patients. In addition, several functional MRI studies have indicated that thermal stimuli promoted activation in the premotor and motor cortices of healthy participants. These imply the possibility of TS in cortical reorganization. However, there were no studies exploring the relationship of the TS intervention and cortical reorganization. By the functional recovery of stroke patients, findings of brain image and brain mapping, it could enhance the understanding the TS influences on brain reorganization. Regarding with clinical application of the TS intervention for improving functional performance of upper extremity in participants with stroke, the best parameters of TS intervention in clinical practice have not been decided. Therefore, this five-year study recruited three groups of stroke patients (acute, sub-acute, chronic) undergoing TS intervention with different parameters. Functional scales, kinematic data, brain image were taken in several timelines as outcome measures.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

OTHER

Noxious TS

hot, cold alternately, noxious TS in study A

OTHER

Innocuous TS

warm, cool alternately, Innocuious TS in study A

OTHER

High Frequency of Noxious TS

High Frequency of Noxious TS in study B

OTHER

Low Frequency of Noxious TS

Low Frequency of Noxious TS in study B

OTHER

High Intensity of Noxious TS

High Intensity of Noxious TS in study C

OTHER

Low Intensity of Noxious TS

Low Intensity of Noxious TS in study C

Sponsors & Collaborators

• E-DA Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiaokang Hospital

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jau-Hong Lin, Professor · Kaohsiung Medical University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-01-31

Primary Completion

2014-06-30

Completion

2014-12-31

Countries

• Taiwan