Efficacy of rTMS and VCT on Upper Limb Function in Patients With Stroke

Summary

Stroke is the major cause of motor impairment and physical disabilities in the adult population. Spasticity and loss of dexterity are the common problems in stroke. Recently, current interventions, such as cycling training, virtual reality (VR) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), were used for the treatment of upper extremity (UE) dysfunction in patients with stroke. However, few studies investigated the effects of the combinations of different treatment strategies using by integrating brain imaging and motor control studies. This project proposes different novel treatment strategies in the treatment of UE dysfunction in patients with stroke: combined inhibitory/facilitatory rTMS, VR-based cycling training (VCT), and combined rTMS and VCT. We hypothesize that the treatment effect of the combined protocol (optimal rTMS protocol and VCT) is more effective than single treatment due to integration of central and peripheral effects. Different treatment protocols will induce different changes in the brain reorganization and motor control, which further improve motor function, activity, participation, and health related quality of life (HRQOL).

Conditions

• Cerebral Vascular Accident

Interventions

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intermittent theta burst stimulation

In intermittent theta burst stimulation pattern (iTBS) will intermittently give a 2 s train of TBS every 10s repeated 2 times for a total of 40 times (low pulse: 1200 pulses in total) Other Names: intermittent theta burst stimulation

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continuous theta burst stimulation

In continuous burst stimulation pattern (cTBS) will intermittently give a cTBS treatment consists of a continuous train of TBS for 40 seconds repeated for 2 times(low pulse: 1200 pulses in total). Other Names: continuous burst stimulation

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iTBS+cTBS group

In iTBS+cTBS pattern, continuous cTBS will be followed by intermittent iTBS (low pulse; 1200 pulses in total)

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sham theta burst stimulation

In sham burst stimulation pattern (sham TBS) will intermittently give a sham TBS treatment consists of a continuous train of TBS for 40 seconds(almost no pulse: 1200 pulses in total). Other Names: sham theta burst stimulation

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VCT

The UE VCT programs were conducted three times per week, for 12 weeks. Each UE VCT session involved upper limb cycling training followed by UE training in addition to home program. The cycling program consisted of a warm-up exercise, twenty repetitions of hand push-up movements in the sitting position, UE cycling, and a cool-down exercise. The warm-up and cool-down exercises involved stretching and relaxing the head, neck, and the upper and lower body. Other Names: The upper extremity programs virtual cycling training program

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VCT+optimal rTMS group

In VCT+optimal rTMS group, VCT will be combined with optimal rTMS, which has the best outcome in phase 1.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Chia-Ling Chen, MD, PhD · Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-08-31

Primary Completion

2022-02-11

Completion

2022-05-31

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations