Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for Upper Extremity Recovery in Stroke

NCT ID: NCT00142792

Last Updated: 2018-03-29

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

122 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-12-31

Study Completion Date

2010-03-31

Brief Summary

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Stroke is the leading cause of activity limitation among older adults in the United States. NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) can assist stroke survivors in regaining motor ability and decreasing activity limitation caused by stroke. This study will research the effects of two types of NMES on reducing motor impairment and activity limitation.

Detailed Description

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Stroke is the leading cause of activity limitation among older adults in the United States. NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) can be used by stroke survivors who do not have enough residual movement to take part in volitional active repetitive movement therapy and does not require expensive equipment or skilled personnel. Two types of NMES are available. The first is cyclic NMES, which electrically activates paretic muscles at a set duty cycle for a preset time period. (This study will employ both "traditional" cyclic stimulation and "sensory-only" stimulation, in which intensity is set at a level to be felt by the patient but insufficient to cause muscle contraction.)In cyclic NMES, the patient is a passive participant and does not assist the NMES by volitionally contracting the muscle during stimulation. The second type encompasses various forms of NMES in combination with biofeedback. For example, in "EMG-triggered" NMES, subjects are "rewarded" with stimulation in response to successful attempts to reach a pre-set level of EMG activity in the affected muscle. There is increased cognitive input and involvement on the part of the patient. The purpose of this study is to first demonstrate the effectiveness of these two types of surface stimulation on decreasing motor impairment and activity limitation; the study also seeks to assess the effect of adding cognitive input to NMES to reduce motor impairment and activity limitation.

Study subjects will be acute stroke survivors. They will participate for a total of eight months, beginning within the first six months after their stroke. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups and will receive stimulation accordingly: 1) Cyclic stimulation; 2)Sensory-only stimulation; and 3)EMG-triggered stimulation. Members of each treatment group will be given an appropriate NMES device to use for two 40-minute treatment sessions per day, five times per week for eight weeks; for a total of 80 treatment sessions. Stimulation will be applied to ECR and EDC (wrist and finger extensors) on the affected arm. A treatment therapist will visit the patient at home on a weekly basis to monitor subject compliance and to provide feedback on device usage. The primary outcome measure will be the upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA), a measure of motor impairment. The modified Arm Motor Ability Test (mAMAT) is a hemiparetic arm-specific measure of activity limitation, and will serve as a secondary outcome measure.

In addition to the baseline visit on day of enrollment, subjects will complete these outcome measurements at the clinic on five other occasions: at mid-treatment (week 5); end of treatment (week 9); and for follow-up visits at one-, three- and six-months post-treatment.

Conditions

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Stroke, Acute Stroke Hemiparesis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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A. Cyclic stim

* Preprogrammed cycles of finger and thumb flexor and extensor stimulation (and flexor stimulation if deemed necessary by the PI) repeatedly and automatically close and open the hand without any effort or voluntary intent required by the subject.
* Subject instructed to relax, not attempt to assist the stimulation, and not to move the contralateral arm/hand during stimulation
* Uses NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Intervention Type DEVICE

All groups will use the NeuroMove NM900 stimulator. Subjects will use the stimulator as described for their group (treatment arm) for two 40-minute sessions per day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Surface electrodes for all three groups will be placed over the affected EDC and ECR (finger and wrist extensor) muscles.

B. Sensory stim

Sensory-only electrical stimulation. The stimulation will be cyclic in nature but intensity will be set to a level that can be felt by the patient but not sufficient to cause muscle contraction.

Uses NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Intervention Type DEVICE

All groups will use the NeuroMove NM900 stimulator. Subjects will use the stimulator as described for their group (treatment arm) for two 40-minute sessions per day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Surface electrodes for all three groups will be placed over the affected EDC and ECR (finger and wrist extensor) muscles.

C. EMG-Triggered

EMG-Triggered electrical stimulation. Subjects in this group will attempt to extend their affected wrist and fingers in response to an audio cue. They will be "rewarded" with stimulation to cause full hand opening once they have generated EMG sufficient to reach a preset threshold level.

Uses NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

Intervention Type DEVICE

All groups will use the NeuroMove NM900 stimulator. Subjects will use the stimulator as described for their group (treatment arm) for two 40-minute sessions per day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Surface electrodes for all three groups will be placed over the affected EDC and ECR (finger and wrist extensor) muscles.

Interventions

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NMES device with EMG-triggered and Cyclic capabilities

All groups will use the NeuroMove NM900 stimulator. Subjects will use the stimulator as described for their group (treatment arm) for two 40-minute sessions per day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Surface electrodes for all three groups will be placed over the affected EDC and ECR (finger and wrist extensor) muscles.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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NeuroMove NM900 stimulator

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 21-89
* Evidence of clinical symptoms from a hemorrhagic or nonhemorrhagic stroke with all symptoms from previous stroke(s) completely resolved
* Medically stable
* Less than 6 months post-stroke
* Intact skin on the hemiparetic side
* Able to follow 3-stage commands
* Able to recall 2/3 objects after 30 minutes
* Full passive ROM at the wrist and the thumb, index and long finger MCP joints on the affected side
* Presence of a detectable, volitionally-activated EMG signal from the paretic wrist or finger extensors (ECR or EDC)
* Affected wrist extensors ≤ 4 on MRC scale
* Score of ≤ 11/14 on Section C (hand) of UE portion of Fugl Meyer Assessment (FMA)
* Ability to tolerate NMES to the ECR and EDC for full wrist and finger extension
* Caregiver available to assist with the device every day (unless subject capable of using it independently

Exclusion Criteria

* History of ventricular arrythmias or any other arrythmias (i.e. fast atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or supraventricular tachycardia) with hemodynamic instability
* History of other upper motor neuron lesion
* Absent sensation of the affected limb
* Pregnancy
* History of more than one seizure per month during the last year (or, since the stroke if no seizures prior to stroke)
* Discharge to a skilled nursing facility or long-term care facility (EXCEPTION: Subjects may be d/c'd to the 6A SNF unit at MetroHealth Medical Center)
* Uncompensated hemineglect
* Implanted stimulator (such as a pacemaker)
* Evidence of hand pain as defined by current metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint pain upon palpation and/or wrist or MCP pain upon extension
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

89 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Case Western Reserve University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

MetroHealth Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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John Chae, MD

Prof Vice Chair Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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John Chae, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

MetroHealth Medical Center

Locations

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Edwin Shaw Rehab - Akron General Medical Center

Akron, Ohio, United States

Site Status

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Site Status

MetroHealth Medical Center

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Glanz M, Klawansky S, Stason W, Berkey C, Chalmers TC. Functional electrostimulation in poststroke rehabilitation: a meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996 Jun;77(6):549-53. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(96)90293-2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8831470 (View on PubMed)

Chae J, Bethoux F, Bohine T, Dobos L, Davis T, Friedl A. Neuromuscular stimulation for upper extremity motor and functional recovery in acute hemiplegia. Stroke. 1998 May;29(5):975-9. doi: 10.1161/01.str.29.5.975.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9596245 (View on PubMed)

Powell J, Pandyan AD, Granat M, Cameron M, Stott DJ. Electrical stimulation of wrist extensors in poststroke hemiplegia. Stroke. 1999 Jul;30(7):1384-9. doi: 10.1161/01.str.30.7.1384.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10390311 (View on PubMed)

Francisco G, Chae J, Chawla H, Kirshblum S, Zorowitz R, Lewis G, Pang S. Electromyogram-triggered neuromuscular stimulation for improving the arm function of acute stroke survivors: a randomized pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 May;79(5):570-5. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90074-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9596400 (View on PubMed)

Cauraugh J, Light K, Kim S, Thigpen M, Behrman A. Chronic motor dysfunction after stroke: recovering wrist and finger extension by electromyography-triggered neuromuscular stimulation. Stroke. 2000 Jun;31(6):1360-4. doi: 10.1161/01.str.31.6.1360.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10835457 (View on PubMed)

Cauraugh JH, Kim S. Two coupled motor recovery protocols are better than one: electromyogram-triggered neuromuscular stimulation and bilateral movements. Stroke. 2002 Jun;33(6):1589-94. doi: 10.1161/01.str.0000016926.77114.a6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12052996 (View on PubMed)

Sonde L, Gip C, Fernaeus SE, Nilsson CG, Viitanen M. Stimulation with low frequency (1.7 Hz) transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (low-tens) increases motor function of the post-stroke paretic arm. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1998 Jun;30(2):95-9. doi: 10.1080/003655098444192.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9606771 (View on PubMed)

Sonde L, Kalimo H, Fernaeus SE, Viitanen M. Low TENS treatment on post-stroke paretic arm: a three-year follow-up. Clin Rehabil. 2000 Feb;14(1):14-9. doi: 10.1191/026921500673534278.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10688340 (View on PubMed)

Bowman BR, Baker LL, Waters RL. Positional feedback and electrical stimulation: an automated treatment for the hemiplegic wrist. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1979 Nov;60(11):497-502.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 508075 (View on PubMed)

Kraft GH, Fitts SS, Hammond MC. Techniques to improve function of the arm and hand in chronic hemiplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1992 Mar;73(3):220-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1543423 (View on PubMed)

Kimberley TJ, Lewis SM, Auerbach EJ, Dorsey LL, Lojovich JM, Carey JR. Electrical stimulation driving functional improvements and cortical changes in subjects with stroke. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Feb;154(4):450-60. doi: 10.1007/s00221-003-1695-y. Epub 2003 Nov 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14618287 (View on PubMed)

Wilson RD, Page SJ, Delahanty M, Knutson JS, Gunzler DD, Sheffler LR, Chae J. Upper-Limb Recovery After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing EMG-Triggered, Cyclic, and Sensory Electrical Stimulation. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2016 Nov;30(10):978-987. doi: 10.1177/1545968316650278. Epub 2016 May 24.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 27225977 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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http://www.metrohealth.org/body.cfm?id=2438

The MetroHealth System - Clinical Trials

http://rehablab.org

Neuromotor Recovery \& Rehabilitation Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio

Other Identifiers

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R01HD049777

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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R01HD049777

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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