HemiplegiaNCT04113369
Upper Limb Cross-education in Subacute Stroke
A study testing TENS, Conventional rehabilitation and EMS in people with Hemiplegia and Stroke, run by Bezmialem Vakif University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study evaluates how cross-education (unilateral training) affects muscle strength of the paretic limb in acute stroke patients. Half of the hemiplegic patients will receive conventional treatment and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to non-paretic side, while other half will receive conventional… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Hemiplegia, Stroke
- What is being tested?
- TENS, Conventional rehabilitation and EMS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 30 May 2018to 30 Jul 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- thromboembolic stroke,
- <6 months of stroke,
- right hand dominancy,
- left hemiplegia,
- Brunnstrom stage ≥ 3 of recovery for upper extremity and hand
Who cannot join
- myopathy, tendinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities,
- auditory, cognitive or speech disorder that enables communication,
- history of fracture or arthrodesis in the upper limb,
- contracture or severe spasticity (Ashworth scale ≥ 2) in forearm muscles,
- severe cardiovascular disorders (heart failure, coronary artery disease, drug resistant hypertension)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: How Does Cross-education Affect Muscles of Paretic Upper Extremity in Subacute Stroke Survivors?
This study evaluates how cross-education (unilateral training) affects muscle strength of the paretic limb in acute stroke patients. Half of the hemiplegic patients will receive conventional treatment and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to non-paretic side, while other half will receive conventional treatment and electro muscular stimulation (EMS) to non-paretic side.
Read the detailed description
Cross-education, which means the performance improvement in the untrained homologous muscle after unilateral exercise training, is studied in various orthopedical and neurological conditions affecting the body unilaterally. For those with asymmetrical weakness and immobility after stroke, training the non-paretic side can be utilized to increase the strength of the paretic side and improve functional symmetry. In this study, investigators aim was to examine whether training non-paretic upper extremity wrist flexor muscles by EMS in adjunct to conventional training program, has additional benefits upon the muscle powers of the homologous agonist and antagonist muscles. Investigators will use low frequency antalgic TENS stimulation at barely sensible level, which is considered not to cause muscle strengthening, as a control intervention.
- Conditions
- Hemiplegia, Stroke
- Being tested
- TENS, Conventional rehabilitation, EMS
- Keywords
- Cross-education, Interlimb transfer, Electro muscular stimulation, Muscle strength
- Medical subject headings
- Hemiplegia, Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
TENSDevice
30 minutes of conventional antalgic TENS to non-paretic forearm
Conventional rehabilitationProcedure or surgery
40 minutes of lower limb training and 20 minutes of upper extremity training for stroke
EMSDevice
20 minutes of EMS to non-paretic forearm with 5 minutes of pre and post warm-up
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| TENS group | Sham comparator | 30 sessions (5 sessions/week, 6 weeks) of training including 40 minutes of lower limb training including a mixture of lower limb gait training, balance training and aerobic training and a combination of task-oriented treatment, fine motor skill training, range of motion exercises stretch exercises and strength training (75% repetition maximum (RM), 6 repetitions) for 20 minutes. After that training program, patients will receive 30 minutes of conventional antalgic TENS (100 Hz) program as controls with electrostimulation device to the non-paretic wrist flexors. Receives: Device: TENS; Procedure: Conventional rehabilitation |
| EMS group | Active comparator | 0 sessions (5 sessions/week, 6 weeks) of training including 40 minutes of lower limb training including a mixture of lower limb gait training, balance training and aerobic training and a combination of task-oriented treatment, fine motor skill training, range of motion exercises stretch exercises and strength training (75% repetition maximum (RM), 6 repetitions) for 20 minutes. After that training, the patients will receive 20 minutes of electrical stimulation to their non-paretic forearm upon wrist flexors by an intermittent maximum strength program (6 seconds of contraction, 10 seconds of rest) along with 5 minutes of pre and post warm-up with the same device. Receives: Procedure: Conventional rehabilitation; Device: EMS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment for upper extremity
This scale is designed to assess reflex activity, volitional activities (within synergies, mixing synergies, with little or no synergy), wrist and hand joint functioning, and coordination of the upper extremity in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. This scale is an ordinal scale that has 3 points for each item. A zero score is given for the item if the subject cannot do the task. A score of 1 is given when the task is performed partially and a score of 2 is given when the task is performed fully. However, reflex activity is measured using 2 points only, with a score of 0 or 2 for absence and presence of reflex respectively. Maximum score in the upper limb is 66 and higher scores represent a better outcome
Measured: 6 weeks
The functional independence measure
This scale is an assessment tool which evaluate the functional status of patients throughout the rehabilitation process. Degree of disability depends on the patient's score in 18 categories, focusing on motor and cognitive function. Each category or item is rated on a 7-point scale (1 = <25% independence; total assistance required, 7 = 100% independence. Total score varies between 18 to 126 and higher scores represent a more independent patient
Measured: 6 weeks
Brunnstrom stage of recovery for hand
This staging evaluates patient according to six sequential stages of recovery as stage 1: flaccidity, 2: basic limb synergy with minimal spasticity, 3: synergy with marked spasticity, 4: limited ability to move normally with reduced spasticity, 5: complex movement combinations, and 6: motor control is almost fully recovered. A patient can plateau at any stage but if able to reach stage 6 he or she makes full recovery
Measured: 6 weeks
Maximum and mean strength of paretic wrist flexors
While the patient lays in supine on a bad, a physician stabilizes the forearm of the patient and measures the wrist flexion power with a manual muscle tester device while patient's forearm is in supination. This device can measure maximal power and mean power during 10 seconds of pressure. Circular cap of the device is used as application surface and the cap is placed on palm for wrist flexion for measurement. Then the patient is asked to perform a maximum wrist flexion for ten seconds. The device notices the patient for time with two sounds at starting or finishing the measurement. The maximum and mean wrist flexion force, wrist extension force is recorded in kilograms after the measurement.
Measured: 6 weeks
Maximum and mean strength of paretic wrist extensors
While the patient lays in supine on a bad, a physician stabilizes the forearm of the patient and measures the wrist extension power with a manual muscle tester (Lafayette instrument company, IN, USA) device while patient's forearm is in pronation. This device can measure maximal power and mean power during 10 seconds of pressure. Circular cap of the device is used as application surface and the cap is placed on the middle of hand dorsum for wrist extension measurement. Then the patient is asked to perform a maximum wrist extension for ten seconds. The device notices the patient for time with two sounds at starting or finishing the measurement. The maximum and mean extension flexion force is recorded in kilograms after the measurement
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Oct 2019
- Study start30 May 2018
- Primary completion30 Jul 2019
- Study completion30 Jul 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HemiplegiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bezmialem Vakif University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ozan Volkan Yurdakul, MD, Principal investigator, Bezmialem University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04113369
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2015-16/10
- Status last verified
- Apr 2020
- First submitted
- 1 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 10 Apr 2020
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Carroll TJ, Herbert RD, Munn J, Lee M, Gandevia SC. Contralateral effects of unilateral strength training: evidence and possible mechanisms. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006 Nov;101(5):1514-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00531.2006.
PubMed 17043329Dragert K, Zehr EP. High-intensity unilateral dorsiflexor resistance training results in bilateral neuromuscular plasticity after stroke. Exp Brain Res. 2013 Mar;225(1):93-104. doi: 10.1007/s00221-012-3351-x. Epub 2012 Nov 30.
PubMed 23196803Urbin MA, Harris-Love ML, Carter AR, Lang CE. High-Intensity, Unilateral Resistance Training of a Non-Paretic Muscle Group Increases Active Range of Motion in a Severely Paretic Upper Extremity Muscle Group after Stroke. Front Neurol. 2015 May 27;6:119. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00119. eCollection 2015.
PubMed 26074871Yurdakul OV, Kilicoglu MS, Rezvani A, Kucukakkas O, Eren F, Aydin T. How does cross-education affects muscles of paretic upper extremity in subacute stroke survivors? Neurol Sci. 2020 Dec;41(12):3667-3675. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04506-2. Epub 2020 Jun 6.
PubMed 32506358
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Apr 2020. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- How Does Cross-education Affect Muscles of Paretic Upper Extremity in Subacute Stroke Survivors?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04113369
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2015-16/10
- Conditions
- Hemiplegia, Stroke
- Keywords
- Cross-education, Interlimb transfer, Electro muscular stimulation, Muscle strength
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bezmialem Vakif UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 May 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jul 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study evaluates how cross-education (unilateral training) affects muscle strength of the paretic limb in acute stroke patients. Half of the hemiplegic patients will receive conventional treatment and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to non-paretic side, while other half will receive conventional treatment and electro muscular stimulation (EMS) to non-paretic side.
Detailed description
Cross-education, which means the performance improvement in the untrained homologous muscle after unilateral exercise training, is studied in various orthopedical and neurological conditions affecting the body unilaterally. For those with asymmetrical weakness and immobility after stroke, training the non-paretic side can be utilized to increase the strength of the paretic side and improve functional symmetry. In this study, investigators aim was to examine whether training non-paretic upper extremity wrist flexor muscles by EMS in adjunct to conventional training program, has additional benefits upon the muscle powers of the homologous agonist and antagonist muscles. Investigators will use low frequency antalgic TENS stimulation at barely sensible level, which is considered not to cause muscle strengthening, as a control intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| TENS group | Sham comparator | Device: TENS, Procedure: Conventional rehabilitation30 sessions (5 sessions/week, 6 weeks) of training including 40 minutes of lower limb training including a mixture of lower limb gait training, balance training and aerobic training and a combination of task-oriented treatment, fine motor skill training, range of motion exercises stretch exercises and strength training (75% repetition maximum (RM), 6 repetitions) for 20 minutes. After that training program, patients will receive 30 minutes of conventional antalgic TENS (100 Hz) program as controls with electrostimulation device to the non-paretic wrist flexors. |
| EMS group | Active comparator | Procedure: Conventional rehabilitation, Device: EMS0 sessions (5 sessions/week, 6 weeks) of training including 40 minutes of lower limb training including a mixture of lower limb gait training, balance training and aerobic training and a combination of task-oriented treatment, fine motor skill training, range of motion exercises stretch exercises and strength training (75% repetition maximum (RM), 6 repetitions) for 20 minutes. After that training, the patients will receive 20 minutes of electrical stimulation to their non-paretic forearm upon wrist flexors by an intermittent maximum strength program (6 seconds of contraction, 10 seconds of rest) along with 5 minutes of pre and post warm-up with the same device. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- thromboembolic stroke,
- <6 months of stroke,
- right hand dominancy,
- left hemiplegia,
- Brunnstrom stage ≥ 3 of recovery for upper extremity and hand
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- myopathy, tendinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities,
- auditory, cognitive or speech disorder that enables communication,
- history of fracture or arthrodesis in the upper limb,
- contracture or severe spasticity (Ashworth scale ≥ 2) in forearm muscles,
- severe cardiovascular disorders (heart failure, coronary artery disease, drug resistant hypertension)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| TENS30 minutes of conventional antalgic TENS to non-paretic forearm | Device | TENS group |
| Conventional rehabilitation40 minutes of lower limb training and 20 minutes of upper extremity training for stroke | Procedure or surgery | EMS group, TENS group |
| EMS20 minutes of EMS to non-paretic forearm with 5 minutes of pre and post warm-up | Device | EMS group |
Primary outcome
The Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment for upper extremity
Time frame: 6 weeks
This scale is designed to assess reflex activity, volitional activities (within synergies, mixing synergies, with little or no synergy), wrist and hand joint functioning, and coordination of the upper extremity in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. This scale is an ordinal scale that has 3 points for each item. A zero score is given for the item if the subject cannot do the task. A score of 1 is given when the task is performed partially and a score of 2 is given when the task is performed fully. However, reflex activity is measured using 2 points only, with a score of 0 or 2 for absence and presence of reflex respectively. Maximum score in the upper limb is 66 and higher scores represent a better outcome
The functional independence measure
Time frame: 6 weeks
This scale is an assessment tool which evaluate the functional status of patients throughout the rehabilitation process. Degree of disability depends on the patient's score in 18 categories, focusing on motor and cognitive function. Each category or item is rated on a 7-point scale (1 = <25% independence; total assistance required, 7 = 100% independence. Total score varies between 18 to 126 and higher scores represent a more independent patient
Brunnstrom stage of recovery for hand
Time frame: 6 weeks
This staging evaluates patient according to six sequential stages of recovery as stage 1: flaccidity, 2: basic limb synergy with minimal spasticity, 3: synergy with marked spasticity, 4: limited ability to move normally with reduced spasticity, 5: complex movement combinations, and 6: motor control is almost fully recovered. A patient can plateau at any stage but if able to reach stage 6 he or she makes full recovery
Maximum and mean strength of paretic wrist flexors
Time frame: 6 weeks
While the patient lays in supine on a bad, a physician stabilizes the forearm of the patient and measures the wrist flexion power with a manual muscle tester device while patient's forearm is in supination. This device can measure maximal power and mean power during 10 seconds of pressure. Circular cap of the device is used as application surface and the cap is placed on palm for wrist flexion for measurement. Then the patient is asked to perform a maximum wrist flexion for ten seconds. The device notices the patient for time with two sounds at starting or finishing the measurement. The maximum and mean wrist flexion force, wrist extension force is recorded in kilograms after the measurement.
Maximum and mean strength of paretic wrist extensors
Time frame: 6 weeks
While the patient lays in supine on a bad, a physician stabilizes the forearm of the patient and measures the wrist extension power with a manual muscle tester (Lafayette instrument company, IN, USA) device while patient's forearm is in pronation. This device can measure maximal power and mean power during 10 seconds of pressure. Circular cap of the device is used as application surface and the cap is placed on the middle of hand dorsum for wrist extension measurement. Then the patient is asked to perform a maximum wrist extension for ten seconds. The device notices the patient for time with two sounds at starting or finishing the measurement. The maximum and mean extension flexion force is recorded in kilograms after the measurement
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Apr 2020.
- Background: PubMed 17043329Carroll TJ, Herbert RD, Munn J, Lee M, Gandevia SC. Contralateral effects of unilateral strength training: evidence and possible mechanisms. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006 Nov;101(5):1514-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00531.2006.
- Background: PubMed 23196803Dragert K, Zehr EP. High-intensity unilateral dorsiflexor resistance training results in bilateral neuromuscular plasticity after stroke. Exp Brain Res. 2013 Mar;225(1):93-104. doi: 10.1007/s00221-012-3351-x. Epub 2012 Nov 30.
- Background: PubMed 26074871Urbin MA, Harris-Love ML, Carter AR, Lang CE. High-Intensity, Unilateral Resistance Training of a Non-Paretic Muscle Group Increases Active Range of Motion in a Severely Paretic Upper Extremity Muscle Group after Stroke. Front Neurol. 2015 May 27;6:119. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00119. eCollection 2015.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 32506358Yurdakul OV, Kilicoglu MS, Rezvani A, Kucukakkas O, Eren F, Aydin T. How does cross-education affects muscles of paretic upper extremity in subacute stroke survivors? Neurol Sci. 2020 Dec;41(12):3667-3675. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04506-2. Epub 2020 Jun 6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ozan Volkan Yurdakul, MD principal investigator
Bezmialem University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing TENS, Conventional rehabilitation and EMS in people with Hemiplegia and Stroke, run by Bezmialem Vakif University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Apr 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment for upper extremity (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04113369, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Apr 2020.