Combine Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Stroke Patients

Summary

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown not only to improve motor function but also increase cortical excitability and neural plasticity. Several studies demonstrated that the combination of tDCS and different treatments are more effective than a single tDCS alone. However, the effects of combination tDCS and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on upper extremity motor recovery in patients with stroke have not yet been investigated. Taking into consideration the safety and feasibility of new medical technology, recruitment of healthy subjects as a pilot study. And then recruit the stroke patients to investigate the effects for the combination of tDCS and NMES on upper extremity motor recovery in stroke.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

DEVICE

Combination of tDCS and NMES

Both tDCS and NMES conduct simultaneously for 30 minutes. The anodal electrode of tDCS is placed on the scalp site corresponding to primary motor cortex (M1) of the hemisphere affected by stroke. The cathodal electrode of tDCS is placed on the scalp site corresponding to unaffected primary motor cortex. The current is initially increased in a ramp-like fashion over 30 seconds until reaching 2 mA and is decreased ramp-like fashion over 30 seconds until reaching 0 mA. The NMES electrodes are placed over the following muscle: extensor digitorum communis, extensor carpi radialis to produce wrist and hand extension. The settings for the NMES is frequency at 50 Hz, pulse width of 200μs,duty cycle of 10 seconds on and 10 seconds off,current amplitude is adjusted to patients comfort (10-20mA).

DEVICE

Combination of tDCS and sham NMES

Both tDCS and sham NMES conduct simultaneously for 30 minutes. The anodal electrode of tDCS is placed on the scalp site corresponding to primary motor cortex (M1) of the hemisphere affected by stroke. The cathodal electrode of tDCS is placed on the scalp site corresponding to unaffected primary motor cortex. The current is initially increased in a ramp-like fashion over 30 seconds until reaching 2 mA and is decreased ramp-like fashion over 30 seconds until reaching 0 mA. Sham NMES electrodes are placed away from all extensor digitorum communis, extensor carpi radialis motor points, and the patients receive cutaneous stimulation just above the sensory threshold without motor activation(wrist extension).

DEVICE

Combination of sham tDCS and sham NMES

Both sham tDCS and sham NMES conduct simultaneously for 30 minutes. Sham tDCS electrodes are placed in the same position on patients receiving the sham stimulation. Just like during real tDCS, stimulation is started in a ramp-like fashion but fade out slowly after 30 seconds. Sham NMES electrodes are placed away from all extensor digitorum communis, extensor carpi radialis motor points, and the patients receive cutaneous stimulation just above the sensory threshold without motor activation(wrist extension).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• 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

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-01-13

Primary Completion

2019-07-30

Completion

2019-07-30

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations