Mirror Therapy with Cutaneous Electrical Sensory Stimulation on Lower Limb Motor Functions in Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03622879

Last Updated: 2024-10-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-07-02

Study Completion Date

2025-06-01

Brief Summary

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This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of concurrent mirror therapy (MT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in augmenting the efficacy of the lower limb task-oriented training in people with stroke. It is hypothesize that MT combined with TENS would be superior to sham-mirror therapy with TENS, or MT with placebo-TENS, or control training only in improving lower limb motor functions and walking ability in people with stroke when combined with the lower limb task-oriented training.

Detailed Description

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The application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) over a paretic lower limb could augment the effects of task-oriented exercise therapy on lower limb motor function in people with stroke, possibly through increased excitability of sensorimotor cortex.

In mirror therapy (MT), the intact limb performs motor tasks while its mirror reflection is superimposed over the covered paretic limb, creating a visual illusion of enhanced function over the paretic limb. The visual input during MT could substitute for reduced proprioceptive inputs and increase spatial attention of the paretic limb, which could improve motor function of the paretic limb, possibly through increased cortical activity in the lesioned hemisphere and mirror neurone system.

The next question concerns whether MT could be combined with TENS and whether their synergetic effects could maximise the motor output of paretic limbs in people with stroke.

Conditions

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Stroke

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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MT + TENS

The subject will adopt a semi-seated position on a bed while the mirror board is positioned between the legs perpendicular to the subject's midline. The paretic leg will be positioned behind the mirror, with the intact leg facing the reflective surface. All subjects will be reminded to focus on the image in the mirror during MT training. All subjects will receive concurrent TENS stimulation over the common peroneal nerve while practising bilateral lower limb exercises. After 15 minutes of priming with TENS + MT, all subjects will perform 60 minutes of lower limb task-oriented training.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A customised angle-adjustable frame with a mirror board (60 × 90 cm) will be used. All subjects are instructed to perform hip flexion/abduction, knee flexion/extension and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion on the intact-limb during a 15 minutes period.

TENS

Intervention Type DEVICE

TENS will be delivered to the common peroneal nerve of the paretic leg. The stimulation frequency will be 100Hz and with an intensity just below the motor threshold.

Lower-limb task-oriented training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The lower-limb task-oriented training comprises 6 exercises, namely stepping up and down, heel lift a dorsiflexed position, partial squatting, kicking a ball with alternate legs, gait re-education and transition training. Each exercise last for 10 minutes

Placebo-MT+TENS

In the Placebo-MT+TENS group, the experimental set-up and protocol will be the same as in the MT+TENS group, except that the reflecting surface of the angle-adjustable mirror was covered with paper. After 15 minutes of priming, all subjects will perform 60 minutes of lower limb task-oriented training.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

TENS

Intervention Type DEVICE

TENS will be delivered to the common peroneal nerve of the paretic leg. The stimulation frequency will be 100Hz and with an intensity just below the motor threshold.

Lower-limb task-oriented training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The lower-limb task-oriented training comprises 6 exercises, namely stepping up and down, heel lift a dorsiflexed position, partial squatting, kicking a ball with alternate legs, gait re-education and transition training. Each exercise last for 10 minutes

MT+placebo-TENS

In the MT+placebo-TENS group, the experimental set-up and protocol will be the same as in the MT+TENS group. The only difference is that placebo stimulation will be applied to the paretic limb from identical-looking TENS devices with the electrical circuit disconnected inside. After 15 minutes of priming, all subjects will perform 60 minutes of lower limb task-oriented training.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

MT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A customised angle-adjustable frame with a mirror board (60 × 90 cm) will be used. All subjects are instructed to perform hip flexion/abduction, knee flexion/extension and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion on the intact-limb during a 15 minutes period.

Lower-limb task-oriented training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The lower-limb task-oriented training comprises 6 exercises, namely stepping up and down, heel lift a dorsiflexed position, partial squatting, kicking a ball with alternate legs, gait re-education and transition training. Each exercise last for 10 minutes

control training

All subjects will perform 60 minutes of lower limb task-oriented training only.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Lower-limb task-oriented training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The lower-limb task-oriented training comprises 6 exercises, namely stepping up and down, heel lift a dorsiflexed position, partial squatting, kicking a ball with alternate legs, gait re-education and transition training. Each exercise last for 10 minutes

Interventions

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MT

A customised angle-adjustable frame with a mirror board (60 × 90 cm) will be used. All subjects are instructed to perform hip flexion/abduction, knee flexion/extension and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion on the intact-limb during a 15 minutes period.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

TENS

TENS will be delivered to the common peroneal nerve of the paretic leg. The stimulation frequency will be 100Hz and with an intensity just below the motor threshold.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Lower-limb task-oriented training

The lower-limb task-oriented training comprises 6 exercises, namely stepping up and down, heel lift a dorsiflexed position, partial squatting, kicking a ball with alternate legs, gait re-education and transition training. Each exercise last for 10 minutes

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. have had a single stroke with ischemic brain injury or intracerebral haemorrhage diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography within the previous 6 to 36 months;
2. have at least 5 degrees of active ankle dorsiflexion in the antigravity position;
3. are able to walk 10 m independently with or without a walking aid;
4. are able to score 6 or higher out of 10 on the abbreviated mental test;
5. have no unilateral neglect, hemianopia or apraxia;
6. have no skin allergy (e.g. redness or itchiness to the electrical stimulation pads) to electrical stimulation or electrodes; and
7. are able to follow instructions and give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. have any additional medical, cardiovascular or orthopaedic condition that would hinder proper treatment or assessment;
2. have visual deficits that may hinder them from benefiting from the mirror visual feedback;
3. have receptive dysphasia; or
4. are involved in drug studies or other clinical trials.
Minimum Eligible Age

55 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Shamay Ng

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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SSM Ng, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Locations

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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SSM Ng, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+852 2766-4889

Facility Contacts

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SSM Ng, PhD

Role: primary

SSM Ng, PhD

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

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2018_GRF_NG

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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