NCT03839316

Effects of Bihemispheric Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Function in Stroke Patients

The Effect of Bihemispheric Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Therapy on Upper Extremity Motor Functions in Stroke Patients

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: Baskent University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Motor impairment (impairment of movement) due to stroke is one of the leading disabilities in adults. In addition to established means of facilitating motor recovery after stroke such as physical and occupational therapy, a variety of experimental rehabilitation approaches have been tested. Although there have been significant advances in stroke rehabilitation with these techniques and treatments, research on this subject is continuing. Recent studies have focused on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapies, which are methods of non-invasive brain stimulation that may be effective on cerebral remodelling, aim to reestablish the disturbed balance between the anatomic areas of the brain seen in stroke patients. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applications on the upper extremity motor functions of patients with stroke.

Detailed description

Motor impairment due to ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke is one of the leading disabilities in adults. In addition to established means of facilitating motor recovery after stroke such as physical and occupational therapy, a variety of experimental rehabilitation approaches have been tested. Recent developments include noninvasive brain stimulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The use of these tools is based on neurophysiologic studies demonstrating an imbalance of interhemispheric interactions which appears to interfere with the recovery process. The model of interhemispheric imbalance provides a framework for developing hypotheses based on its 2 facets: 1) upregulating excitability of intact portions of the ipsilesional motor cortex and 2) downregulating excitability of the contralesional motor cortex to modulate its unrestrained inhibitory influence on ipsilesional regions. Studies to date have shown have shown the beneficial effects of tDCS on motor skills and motor learning. Bihemispheric tDCS may potentiate the effects of anodal stimulation to the lesional hemisphere through additional modulation of interhemispheric interactions via cathodal stimulation to the contralesional motor cortex. The primary aim of this prospective, randomized, sham controlled study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applications on the upper extremity motor functions of patients with stroke.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Upper Extremity Paresis
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	tDCS	A constant current stimulator (ZMI Electronics LTD.,Taiwan,2012) will be used through 2 saline-soaked surface gel-sponge electrodes (22 cm2 active area). Real stimulation consisting of thirty minutes of 2 mA direct current with the anode placed over the ipsilesional and the cathode over the contralesional motor cortex (C3 and C4 of the international 10-20 EEG electrode system).
DEVICE	sham tDCS	For sham tDCS, the same electrode positions were used. The current was ramped up to 2 mA and slowly decreased over 30 seconds to ensure the typical initial tingling sensation

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-12-01
• Primary completion: 2019-03-31
• Completion: 2019-03-31
• First posted: 2019-02-15
• Last updated: 2019-04-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)