Comprehensive Protocol for Treatment of Upper Limb Spasticity in Post-stroke Hemiplegic Patients

NCT ID: NCT05940805

Last Updated: 2024-07-25

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-08-03

Study Completion Date

2023-12-03

Brief Summary

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The general objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the comprehensive protocol in improving post-stroke upper limb spasticity. The specific objectives were to evaluate pain improvement and changes in quality of life and functional capacity in patients who were subjected to the comprehensive protocol compared with those in the patients who underwent sham interventions.

Detailed Description

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Background: Managing post-stroke upper limb spasticity is a major challenge in the rehabilitation field. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive treatment protocol with four therapeutic modalities in the recovery of patients with chronic stroke by evaluating clinical, neurological and functional outcomes.

Methodology: Thirty-two subjects diagnosed with a stroke at least six months prior to the study were randomized to receive ten sessions of either the treatment protocol or a sham intervention. The treatment protocol consisted of transcranial low-frequency electrical stimulation using subcutaneous needles over the scalp, paraspinous blocks, spastic muscle needling and functional electrical stimulation. Spasticity, range of motion, pain, functionality and quality of life were evaluated.

Conditions

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Post-stroke Upper Limb Spasticity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Thirty-two subjects diagnosed with a stroke at least six months prior to the study were randomized to receive ten sessions of either the treatment protocol or a sham intervention. The treatment protocol consisted of transcranial low-frequency electrical stimulation using subcutaneous needles over the scalp, paraspinous blocks, spastic muscle needling and functional electrical stimulation. Spasticity, range of motion, pain, functionality and quality of life were evaluated.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
The Sham Group received the four modalities of the intervention, but these modalities were all inactive. For simulation of transcranial electrical stimulation and FES, electrodes were placed on the scalp and in the upper extremity muscles and were connected to a device similar to the real electric current generator. This device did not transmit any electric current but had blinking lights and produced sound to provide the subjects visual and auditory feedback. To simulate dry needling and paraspinous block, retractile needles were used. The patients were blinded to their assigned treatment group. Blinded examiners evaluated patients at baseline, one week post-treatment and three months post-treatment.

Study Groups

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Protocol Group (PG)

The PG received the following combination of four therapeutic modalities twice a week for five weeks:

1. Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation;
2. Paraspinous block;
3. Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles;
4. Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation; Paraspinous block; Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles; Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

1. Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation (2/100 Hz) applied through 0.3-mm-diameter and 40-mm-long needles placed subcutaneously on the scalp at the projection of Penfield's motor homunculus and sensory and frontal supplementary motor associative areas.
2. Paraspinous block at the levels of the C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae concordant with spasticity laterality.
3. Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles, as identified through a thorough physical examination, using 0.3-mm-diameter and 40-mm-long needles.
4. Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES) in the antagonists of the upper limb muscles with spasticity with the following parameters: 20-Hz frequency, 300-µs pulse width, zero-second ramp time, 5-second stimulation time, and 5-second resting time.

Sham Group (SG)

The Sham Group also received the four modalities of the intervention, but these modalities were all inactive. For simulation of transcranial electrical stimulation and FES, electrodes were placed on the scalp and in the upper extremity muscles and were connected to a device similar to the real electric current generator. This device did not transmit any electric current but had blinking lights and produced sound to provide the subjects visual and auditory feedback. To simulate dry needling and paraspinous block, retractile needles were used. The patients were blinded to their assigned treatment group.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

SHAM Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation; Paraspinous block; Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles; Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

For simulation of transcranial electrical stimulation and FES, electrodes were placed on the scalp and in the upper extremity muscles and were connected to a device similar to the real electric current generator. This device did not transmit any electric current but had blinking lights and produced sound to provide the subjects visual and auditory feedback. To simulate dry needling and paraspinous block, retractile needles were used.

Interventions

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Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation; Paraspinous block; Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles; Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES)

1. Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation (2/100 Hz) applied through 0.3-mm-diameter and 40-mm-long needles placed subcutaneously on the scalp at the projection of Penfield's motor homunculus and sensory and frontal supplementary motor associative areas.
2. Paraspinous block at the levels of the C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae concordant with spasticity laterality.
3. Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles, as identified through a thorough physical examination, using 0.3-mm-diameter and 40-mm-long needles.
4. Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES) in the antagonists of the upper limb muscles with spasticity with the following parameters: 20-Hz frequency, 300-µs pulse width, zero-second ramp time, 5-second stimulation time, and 5-second resting time.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

SHAM Low-frequency transcranial electrical stimulation; Paraspinous block; Dry needling of spastic upper limb muscles; Muscular functional electrical stimulation (FES)

For simulation of transcranial electrical stimulation and FES, electrodes were placed on the scalp and in the upper extremity muscles and were connected to a device similar to the real electric current generator. This device did not transmit any electric current but had blinking lights and produced sound to provide the subjects visual and auditory feedback. To simulate dry needling and paraspinous block, retractile needles were used.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age older than 18 years;
* Diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke at least six months previously;
* Presence of single upper limb spasticity

Exclusion Criteria

* Spasticity due to conditions other than stroke;
* Hypersensitivity to lidocaine;
* Use of cardiac pacemakers;
* Presence of coagulation disturbances;
* Insufficient perceptual and cognitive capacity to understand the proposed treatment and answer the questionnaires
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Wu Tu Hsing

Director of Center of Acupuncture of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Institute

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of São Paulo General Hospital

São Paulo, , Brazil

Site Status

Countries

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Brazil

References

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Related Links

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http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/projeto_diretrizes/048.pdf

Projeto Diretrizes da Associação Médica Brasileira e Conselho Federal de Medicina - Diagnóstico e Tratamento da Espasticidade. 2001.

Other Identifiers

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3853051109

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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