Effects of tES Combined With CMDT Gait Training on Cognition, Cortical Activity, Spinal Motoneuron Excitability and Motor Performance in Stroke Individuals

Summary

The present study will use transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) which are transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with conventional physical therapy and cognitive-motor dual task gait training in sub-acute (at least 2 weeks after stroke onset) to chronic (within 5 years post-stroke) to investigate the effect on cortical activity, spinal motoneuron excitability, cognition and motor performance. The findings may enhance the evidence to support usages of tES for improvimg cognition, motor performance as well as cortical activity and spinal motoneuron excitability in a clinical setting.

Conditions

• Hemorrhagic Stroke
• Ischemic Stroke
• Subacute Stroke
• Chronic Stroke Patient

Interventions

DEVICE

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (Active)

Electrode placement based on the international 10-20 electroencephalography electrode system. The electrode will be place over ipsilesional hemisphere on the primary motor cortex area. Anodal electrode will be placed over C3 or C4, while other 4 return electrodes will be placed over FC1/FC2, FC5/FC6, CP1/CP2, CP5/CP6. Participants will be asked to sit comfortably during stimulation. Participants will receive active HD-tDCS with intensity 2.0 mA for 20 minutes with 30-sec ramp-up and ramp-down.

DEVICE

High-definition transcranial alternating stimulation (Active)

Electrode placement based on the international 10-20 electroencephalography electrode system. The electrode will be place over ipsilesional hemisphere on the primary motor cortex area. Anodal electrode will be placed over C3 or C4, while other 4 return electrodes will be placed over FC1/FC2, FC5/FC6, CP1/CP2, CP5/CP6. Participants will be asked to sit comfortably during stimulation. Participants will receive active HD-tACS with intensity 2.0 mA for 20 minutes with frequency 70 Hz.

DEVICE

High-definition transcranial electrical stimulation (sham)

Electrode placement based on the international 10-20 electroencephalography electrode system. The electrode will be place over ipsilesional hemisphere on the primary motor cortex area. Anodal electrode will be placed over C3 or C4, while other 4 return electrodes will be placed over FC1/FC2, FC5/FC6, CP1/CP2, CP5/CP6. Participants will be asked to sit comfortably during stimulation. Participants will receive active HD-tDCS with intensity 2.0 mA for 20 minutes with electrical current flows 1-minute, with 30-second ramp-up and ramp-down, and no electrical current flow after first 1 minute to the end of stimulation.

OTHER

Cognitive-motor dual task gait training

Participants will be trained in cognitive-motor dual task gait training by using Zebris Rehawalk gait analysis and gait training. Participants will be asked to walk on treadmill while response to cognitive tasks on the computer screen, which is placed in front of participants. Treadmill speed will be set according to participants' preferred speed. Cognitive tasks involve color tasks and math tasks.

OTHER

Conventional Physical therapy

Conventional physical therapy starts immediately after stimulation ends. In 1-hour of conventional physical therapy involving 10 minutes of upper and lower extremity stretching, 20 minutes of upper extremity training, and 30 minutes of lower extremity training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mahidol University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-20

Primary Completion

2026-12-30

Completion

2027-12-30

Countries

• Thailand

Study Locations