NCT01969097

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to investigate whether the combination of bihemispheric ("dual") transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and motor training on 5 consecutive days facilitates motor recovery in chronic stroke. Results will be compared to a matched group of patients undergoing anodal tDCS as well as a control group receiving sham tDCS. Functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before/after the intervention and during a 3 month follow-up will help investigating neural correlates of expected changes in motor function of the affected upper extremity.

Trial Health

80
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable stroke

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2012

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 7, 2013

Completed
18 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 25, 2013

Completed
2.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2015

Completed
Last Updated

March 17, 2016

Status Verified

March 1, 2016

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

October 7, 2013

Last Update Submit

March 16, 2016

Conditions

Keywords

StrokeHemiparesistDCSMotor cortex

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Motor Function of the Affected Upper Extremity

    Effects of dual tDCS + training vs sham-tDCS + training on the motor function of the affected upper extremity (measured by standardized behavioral tests).

    Change from baseline after 5 days (immediately after intervention)

  • Motor Function of the Affected Upper Extremity

    Effects of dual tDCS + training vs sham-tDCS + training on the motor function of the affected upper extremity (measured by standardized behavioral tests).

    change from baseline after 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Motor Function of the Affected Upper Extremity

    After 5 days (immediately after intervention), after 3 months vs baseline (before intervention)

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

    After 5 days (immediately after intervention), after 3 months vs baseline (before intervention)

  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging

    After 5 days (immediately after intervention), after 3 months vs baseline (before intervention)

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

    After 5 days vs baseline (before intervention)

Study Arms (3)

Dual tDCS + motor training

EXPERIMENTAL

Motor training of the affected upper extremity combined with dual transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Device: tDCSBehavioral: Motor training

Anodal tDCS + motor training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Motor training of the affected upper extremity combined with anodal tDCS.

Device: tDCSBehavioral: Motor training

Sham tDCS + motor training

SHAM COMPARATOR

Motor training of the affected upper extremity combined with sham tDCS.

Device: tDCSBehavioral: Motor training

Interventions

tDCSDEVICE

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Anodal tDCS + motor trainingDual tDCS + motor trainingSham tDCS + motor training
Motor trainingBEHAVIORAL

Motor training of the affected upper extremity (5 days, 25 min/day).

Anodal tDCS + motor trainingDual tDCS + motor trainingSham tDCS + motor training

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 80 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • chronic stroke (\>6 months after stroke)
  • age: 18 to 80 years
  • non-hemorrhagic or hemorrhagic stroke

You may not qualify if:

  • more than 1 stroke
  • severe alcohol disease or drug abuse, severe psychiatric disease like depression or psychosis
  • severe cognitive deficits
  • severe untreated medical conditions
  • other neurologic diseases
  • severe microangiopathy
  • pregnancy

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, 10117, Germany

Location

Related Publications (5)

  • Lindenberg R, Renga V, Zhu LL, Nair D, Schlaug G. Bihemispheric brain stimulation facilitates motor recovery in chronic stroke patients. Neurology. 2010 Dec 14;75(24):2176-84. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318202013a. Epub 2010 Nov 10.

    PMID: 21068427BACKGROUND
  • Lindenberg R, Nachtigall L, Meinzer M, Sieg MM, Floel A. Differential effects of dual and unihemispheric motor cortex stimulation in older adults. J Neurosci. 2013 May 22;33(21):9176-83. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0055-13.2013.

    PMID: 23699528BACKGROUND
  • Floel A. tDCS-enhanced motor and cognitive function in neurological diseases. Neuroimage. 2014 Jan 15;85 Pt 3:934-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.098. Epub 2013 May 30.

    PMID: 23727025BACKGROUND
  • Taud B, Lindenberg R, Darkow R, Wevers J, Hofflin D, Grittner U, Meinzer M, Floel A. Limited Add-On Effects of Unilateral and Bilateral Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Visuo-Motor Grip Force Tracking Task Training Outcome in Chronic Stroke. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Neurol. 2021 Nov 11;12:736075. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.736075. eCollection 2021.

  • Elsner B, Kugler J, Pohl M, Mehrholz J. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving activities of daily living, and physical and cognitive functioning, in people after stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Nov 11;11(11):CD009645. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009645.pub4.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

StrokeParesis

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation TherapyTherapeuticsConvulsive TherapyPsychiatric Somatic TherapiesBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesElectroshockPsychological Techniques

Study Officials

  • Robert Lindenberg, M.D.

    Charite University, Berlin, Germany

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Prof. Dr.

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 7, 2013

First Posted

October 25, 2013

Study Start

May 1, 2012

Primary Completion

December 1, 2015

Last Updated

March 17, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-03

Locations