StrokeNCT07778342
tACS and Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke
A study testing tACS in people with Stroke, run by National University Hospital, Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
Trial summary
This study tests whether a brain stimulation technique called tACS can help stroke patients recover movement in their affected arm. Patients receive either real or fake brain stimulation three times a week for about a month (12 sessions total). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- tACS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSingapore
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2026to 31 Dec 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 21 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 21-80 years old;
- First ever stroke, at least 9 months after stroke onset;
- Evidence of corticomotor excitability as manifested by a recordable Motor Evoked Potential from the ipsilesional Motor Cortex (M1) by TMS measurement.
- Objectively documented motor weakness of the upper extremity as manifested by an Upper Extremity-Fugl-Meyer Assessment score <=55
Who cannot join
- Patients with implants: cardiac, neural or medication implants; any electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant; brain medical devices; vascular clips or any other electrically sensitive support system in the brain; other metal implants inside the body that are contraindications of MRI scan;
- Pregnancy;
- Patients with a history of seizures; Patients with unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness, since such condition could be related with brain alterations or epilepsy;
- Patients with serious brain injury;
- Patients showing damage of skin at sites of stimulation;
- Patients with unstable or non-controlled neuropsychiatric illness;
Show all 9Show fewer
- Patients suffering from severe or frequent headaches;
- Patients with any serious life-threatening disease such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary obstructive chronic disease or active neoplasia;
- Sensorimotor disturbance due to other causes other than stroke;
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Singapore1 site
Alexandra Hospital
Singapore
Effie Chew, MBBS, +65 9365 3542, effie_chew@nuhs.edu.sg
About this study
Official title: Pilot Study Investigating the Neuromodulatory Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Upper Limb Motor Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke Patients
This study tests whether a brain stimulation technique called tACS can help stroke patients recover movement in their affected arm.
Patients receive either real or fake brain stimulation three times a week for about a month (12 sessions total). During each session, they wear a cap with electrodes that deliver mild electrical currents tailored to their individual brain patterns, while researchers monitor their brain activity.
The study measures progress at three time points: before treatment, right after treatment, and one month later. Researchers use brain stimulation tests to check how well the brain controls muscles, and conduct physical tests to measure arm movement, muscle stiffness, and grip strength.
Read the detailed description
This randomised, double-blinded clinical trial investigates whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve upper limb motor recovery in chronic stroke patients.
Participants receive either active or sham tACS delivered three times weekly for 4-6 weeks (12 sessions total) using individualised stimulation frequencies. The intervention uses 1 mA peak-to-peak intensity with EEG monitoring before and after each session to track brain oscillation changes.
Assessments occur at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Neurophysiological measures include transcranial magnetic stimulation evaluations of corticospinal excitability, motor thresholds, and intracortical inhibition. Clinical outcomes encompass the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity, and handgrip strength measurements.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- tACS, Sham
- Keywords
- transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation, stroke, upper limb, motor recovery
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
tACSDevice
. tACS will be delivered at a maximum intensity of 1 mA (peak-to-peak) at a frequency corresponding to the individual peak motor imagery (MI) performance frequency. 12 sessions of tACS will be conducted 3 times a week within 4-6 weeks.
ShamDevice
Sham mode of the tACS stimulator will be turned on for sham stimulation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| real tACS | Active comparator | tACS will be delivered at a maximum intensity of 1 mA (peak-to-peak) at a frequency corresponding to the individual peak motor imagery (MI) performance frequency. Receives: Device: tACS |
| sham tACS | Sham comparator | sham tACS mimics active stimulation by delivering short periods of current matching the active protocol) with brief ramp-up and ramp-down periods at the very beginning and end of the session to replicate initial skin tingling sensations. Receives: Device: Sham |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Measured: Week 0
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Measured: Week 6
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Measured: Week 10
Secondary outcomes (9)
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Measured: Week 0
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Measured: Week 6
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
ARAT evaluates UL motor function and status in standardized format using 19 tests of upper UE motor function across 4 subsets: grasp, pinch, grip, and gross movement, both distally and proximally, following a stroke
Measured: Week 10
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Measured: Week 0
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Measured: Week 6
handgrip strength
Hand strength will be measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Measured: Week 10
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome
Measured: Week 0
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome
Measured: Week 6
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Amplitude, latency, resting and active motor thresholds from FDI and APB will be recorded. The bigger value of peak-to peak amplitude of MEP indicates better outcome.
Measured: Week 10
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National University Hospital, SingaporeThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National University Hospital, Singapore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Effie Chew, MBBS, Principal investigator, NUH
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07778342
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/3852
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Study Investigating the Neuromodulatory Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Upper Limb Motor Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07778342
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024/3852
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Keywords
- transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation, stroke, upper limb, motor recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National University Hospital, SingaporeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Aug 2026 (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 tests whether a brain stimulation technique called tACS can help stroke patients recover movement in their affected arm.
Patients receive either real or fake brain stimulation three times a week for about a month (12 sessions total). During each session, they wear a cap with electrodes that deliver mild electrical currents tailored to their individual brain patterns, while researchers monitor their brain activity.
The study measures progress at three time points: before treatment, right after treatment, and one month later. Researchers use brain stimulation tests to check how well the brain controls muscles, and conduct physical tests to measure arm movement, muscle stiffness, and grip strength.
Detailed description
This randomised, double-blinded clinical trial investigates whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve upper limb motor recovery in chronic stroke patients.
Participants receive either active or sham tACS delivered three times weekly for 4-6 weeks (12 sessions total) using individualised stimulation frequencies. The intervention uses 1 mA peak-to-peak intensity with EEG monitoring before and after each session to track brain oscillation changes.
Assessments occur at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Neurophysiological measures include transcranial magnetic stimulation evaluations of corticospinal excitability, motor thresholds, and intracortical inhibition. Clinical outcomes encompass the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity, and handgrip strength measurements.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| real tACS | Active comparator | Device: tACStACS will be delivered at a maximum intensity of 1 mA (peak-to-peak) at a frequency corresponding to the individual peak motor imagery (MI) performance frequency. |
| sham tACS | Sham comparator | Device: Shamsham tACS mimics active stimulation by delivering short periods of current matching the active protocol) with brief ramp-up and ramp-down periods at the very beginning and end of the session to replicate initial skin tingling sensations. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 21-80 years old;
- First ever stroke, at least 9 months after stroke onset;
- Evidence of corticomotor excitability as manifested by a recordable Motor Evoked Potential from the ipsilesional Motor Cortex (M1) by TMS measurement.
- Objectively documented motor weakness of the upper extremity as manifested by an Upper Extremity-Fugl-Meyer Assessment score <=55
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Patients with implants: cardiac, neural or medication implants; any electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant; brain medical devices; vascular clips or any other electrically sensitive support system in the brain; other metal implants inside the body that are contraindications of MRI scan;
- Pregnancy;
- Patients with a history of seizures; Patients with unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness, since such condition could be related with brain alterations or epilepsy;
- Patients with serious brain injury;
- Patients showing damage of skin at sites of stimulation;
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 |
|---|---|---|
| tACS. tACS will be delivered at a maximum intensity of 1 mA (peak-to-peak) at a frequency corresponding to the individual peak motor imagery (MI) performance frequency. 12 sessions of tACS will be conducted 3 times a week within 4-6 weeks. | Device | real tACS |
| ShamSham mode of the tACS stimulator will be turned on for sham stimulation. | Device | sham tACS |
Primary outcome
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
Time frame: Week 0
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
Time frame: Week 6
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA)
Time frame: Week 10
UE-FMA is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index. It is designed to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation and joint functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. It is applied clinically and in research to determine disease severity, describe motor recovery, and to plan and assess treatment.
9 secondary outcomes
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
Time frame: Week 0
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
Time frame: Week 6
Action Research Arm test (ARAT)
Time frame: Week 10
handgrip strength
Time frame: Week 0
handgrip strength
Time frame: Week 6
handgrip strength
Time frame: Week 10
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Time frame: Week 0
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Time frame: Week 6
peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP)
Time frame: Week 10
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Stroke
Not yet recruiting
Temporal Interference Stimulation for Upper-Limb Motor Recovery in Early Subacute Stroke
Acute Ischemic Stroke
RecruitingObservational study
ELATE Study: Evaluating Large-vessel Acute Thrombectomy in Extended Time Window
Acute Ichemic Stroke
Recruiting
Web-Based Tele-Rehabilitation Using Action Observation and Mirror Therapy for Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Stroke, Upper Extremity Paresis
Recruiting
Early Motor-Cognitive Integrative Training on Cognitive and Motor Performance in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Aneurysm Hemorrhage
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Selective Intra-Arterial Hypothermia After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion
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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.
Effie Chew, MBBS principal investigator
NUH
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing tACS in people with Stroke, run by National University Hospital, Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
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 4 inclusion and 9 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2026. 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 Singapore. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Effie Chew, MBBS (+65 9365 3542, effie_chew@nuhs.edu.sg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Upper Extremities Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) (time frame: Week 0). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 21 Aug 2026.