Combining tDCS With VR-based Motor Training in Stroke

Summary

Stroke represents one of the main causes of adult disability and will be one of the main contributors to the burden of disease in 2030. However, our healthcare systems do not have enough resources to cover the current demand let alone its future increase. There is a need to deploy new approaches that advance the current rehabilitation methods and enhance their efficiency.

One of the latest approaches used for the rehabilitation of a wide range of deficits of the nervous system is based on virtual reality (VR) applications, which combine training scenarios with dedicated interface devices. On the other hand, recent studies have shown the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to restore motor function in hemiparetic stroke patients. It must be emphasized, however, that so far little work exists on the quantitative assessment of the clinical impact of VR based approaches in combination with tDCS protocols. We hypothesize that the combination of VR-based motor rehabilitation protocols with concurrent anodal tDCS can boost functional recovery, and may achieve superior effects when compared to 3 alternative treatments: 1) VR without tDCS, 2) occupational therapy with tDCS, and 3) occupational therapy without tDCS.

The findings derived from this study will contribute to establish a novel and superior neurorehabilitation paradigm that can accelerates the recovery of hemiparetic stroke patients. Besides the clinical impact, such achievement could have relevant socioeconomic impact.

Conditions

• Virtual Reality Based Therapy
• Anodal tDCS
• Occupational Therapy
• Sham tDCS

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Virtual Reality-based therapy for upper-limbs motor rehabilitation

During each session, the subject will perform 4 VR-based exercises that involve reaching, grasping, and intercepting virtual objects. The training will last a total of 30 min per session.

DEVICE

Anodal transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS)

Concurrent anodal tDCS on sensorimotor cortex on the ipsilesional hemisphere.

BEHAVIORAL

Occupational Therapy for upper-limbs motor rehabilitation

During each session, the subject will perform 4 occupational therapy exercises that involve reaching, grasping, and intercepting objects. The training will last a total of 30 min per session.

DEVICE

Sham transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS)

Concurrent sham tDCS on sensorimotor cortex on the ipsilesional hemisphere.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Neuroelectrics Corporation

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-05-15

Primary Completion

2020-12-08

Completion

2021-06-08

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations