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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| University College London Hospitals | OTHER |
| National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London | UNKNOWN |
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Stroke patients with absent voluntary finger extension (VFE) 6-months after stroke are not expected to recover hand function. However, experience from the Queen Square Upper Limb neurorehabilitation service contradicts this view. In this study, we will identify the characteristics of those chronic stroke patients who regain previously absent VFE.
Hundred chronic stroke patients will be recruited with absent/negligible VFE in an external pilot and feasibility study. Transcranial magnetic stimulation will be used to determine the functional integrity of descending white matter pathways. Corticospinal tract integrity to finger extensor muscles will be based on whether motor-evoked potentials are present (MEP+) or absent (MEP-). Reticulospinal tract activity will be assessed by measuring ipsilateral MEP amplitudes and the Start-React response.
All patients will then receive 3-months of neuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise, designed to strengthen wrist/finger extensors, reduce spasticity and increase corticospinal excitability. The primary outcome measure will be restoration of VFE.
It is predicted that VFE will be restored in MEP+ but not MEP- patients. MEP- patients will have higher reticulospinal tract activity associated with spasticity. Restoration of VFE will allow patients to engage in evidence-based upper limb training to improve function e.g. constraint induced movement therapy or repetitive task training.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and home exercise programme | Experimental | Three month intervention programme of Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and home exercise programme |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Home Exercise Programme | Behavioral | -Neuromuscular and Electrical Stimulation (NMES): All participants will undergo a NMES treatment programme designed to strengthen wrist and finger extensors. Participants and their carers will receive training in NMES set up from the research physiotherapist. Surface electrodes are placed over the motor points of extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis to produce wrist and finger extension simultaneously. Home exercise: We aim for all patients to perform the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) level 1 (for severely affected upper limbs) for a minimum of 60 minutes/day, 5 days/week. Patients will be provided with an exercise book containing written and pictorial instructions for each exercise, and the kits contained inexpensive equipment to complete the exercises. Exercises included strengthening of the arm and hand, range of motion, and gross and fine motor skills. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary Finger Extension (VFE) | Can participants achieve at least 10° of thumb abduction/extension, and at least 10° of extension in a minimum of 2 additional digits (movements need to be repeatable 3 times in 1 minute). The extent of VFE will be measured using an electronic goniometer. Extent of finger extension is calculated for each finger as a composite of extension at metacarpophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment | Measurement of upper limb motor recovery after stroke | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Hand Dynamometry | Measurement of grip strength |
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Nick Ward, MD | Contact | +44 20 3448 3486 | n.ward@ucl.ac.uk | |
| Lisa Tedesco Triccas, PhD | Contact | l.triccas@ucl.ac.uk |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Ward, MD | University College, London | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University College London- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences | London | WC1N 3BJ | United Kingdom |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D020521 | Stroke |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D002561 | Cerebrovascular Disorders |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
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| Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Sensory function | As of part of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, this measure is used to evaluate somatosensory function of the upper limbs. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) | MTS is a clinical tool used to assess spasticity. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| KINARM- Passive Stretch Task | The KINARM Passive Stretch Task is a quantitative assessment performed with the KINARM robotic assessment system in which the participant's limb is passively displaced by the robot while they are instructed to remain relaxed. The device applies controlled position- or torque-driven perturbations to one or more joints (typically elbow and/or shoulder) across predefined velocities and ranges of motion. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Box and Block Test (BBT) | BBT is a standard assessment to measure manual dexterity and gross motor coordination of the hands. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) | SIS is a self-reported questionnaire designed to measure the multidimensional impact of stroke on a person's life. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Neurophysiological- Corticospinal Tract Integrity | Corticospinal tract integrity is measured using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to evaluate the functional status of motor pathways in the brain and spinal cord - identified as Motor Evoked Potential Positive (MEP+) or Negative (MEP-). Resting and Active Motor Threshold will also be measured in addition with the Compound Muscle Action Potential. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Neurophysiological- Reticulospinal Tract Integrity | This will be assessed using the Start React Protocol and measurement of ipsilateral Motor Evoked Potentials (iMEPs). | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| Neurophysiological- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials | Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials will be measured using Electroencephalography (EEG). The measures will mainly involve recording cortical responses to peripheral nerve stimulation. | Day 1 and Day 90 |
| D014652 | Vascular Diseases |
| D002318 | Cardiovascular Diseases |