NCT03528018

Efficacy of a Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Virtual Reality Intervention

Efficacy of a Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Virtual Reality-based Paradigm for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Individuals With Severe Hemiparesia. A Randomized Control Trial Survivor With Severe Hemiparesis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 14 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hospitales Nisa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Rehabilitation options for stroke survivors who present severe hemiparesis in chronic stages are limited and may end in compensation techniques that involve the use of the less affected arm to achieve some degree of functional independence. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that has been used after stroke to promote excitability of the surviving neural architecture in order to support functional recovery. Interestingly, cortical excitability has been reported to increase when tDCS is combined with virtual reality. This synergetic effect could explain the promising results achieved by preliminary experimental interventions that combined both approaches on upper limb rehabilitation after stroke. The objective of this study is to explore the use of these interventions in subjects with severe hemiparesis and to determine its efficacy in comparison to conventional physical therapy

Conditions

• Stroke
• Hemiparesis
• Chronic Stroke
• Upper Limb Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	REACt system	The REACt system is a virtual reality-based paradigm for upper limb rehabilitation that allows for interaction of individuals with restricted movements from active responses triggered when they attempt to perform a movement. The experimental system also provides multisensory stimulation in the visual, auditory, and tactile channels, and transcranial direct current stimulation coherent to the observed movements
OTHER	Physical therapy	Physical therapy included passive and active mobilization of the paretic upper limb. Passive range of motion exercises were provided in those segments where no active movement was detected to meticulously reproduce a range of articular movements and muscle and soft tissue elongation. In case of residual active movement capability, participants were encouraged to perform the movements with the assistance of the therapists

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-06-01
• Primary completion: 2016-07-30
• Completion: 2016-09-17
• First posted: 2018-05-17
• Last updated: 2018-05-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain