NCT04278105

Brief Summary

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tCES) is a non-invasive and safe treatment, which uses a low direct current or alternating current to change the excitability of the cerebral cortex. The tCES has been applied in clinical trials related to rehabilitation research in recent years, and the safety and effectiveness have also been established. However,the existing tCES products effect on the whole brain networks and lack special waveforms. Therefore, we aim to develop a wearable tCES with high definition and special waveforms in this study. This novel stimulation system will result in more precise and focal stimulation of selected brain regions with special waveforms to display better neuromodulation performance. We expect that the novel high-definition tCES (HD-tCES) combined with the upper extremity rehabilitation can shorten the duration of rehabilitative periods, improve stroke patients' activity of daily living, reduce the care burden of patients' family, and subsequently decrease the cost of health care insurance.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
24

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable stroke

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2020

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

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

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 18, 2020

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 20, 2020

Completed
10 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2020

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 12, 2021

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 12, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

April 1, 2021

Status Verified

March 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

1 year

First QC Date

February 18, 2020

Last Update Submit

March 30, 2021

Conditions

Keywords

Stroke, Transcranial electrical stimulation, Upper-limb rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change from baseline in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment upper extremity scale (FMA-UE) after intervention

    The FMA-UE assesses motor functioning of upper extremity. Each movement is estimated by a 3-point scale (0-1-2). The total score of the FMA-UE is 66, and a higher score indicates that the patient has better movement ability.

    Baseline (within 7 days ahead to the 1st intervention session) and after 4-week intervention (within 7 days after the last intervention session)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Change from baseline in the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) after intervention

    Baseline (within 7 days ahead to the 1st intervention session) and after 4-week intervention (within 7 days after the last intervention session)

  • Change from baseline in the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT) after intervention

    Baseline (within 7 days ahead to the 1st intervention session) and after 4-week intervention (within 7 days after the last intervention session)

  • Change from baseline in the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) after intervention

    Baseline (within 7 days ahead to the 1st intervention session) and after 4-week intervention (within 7 days after the last intervention session)

  • Change from baseline in the Finger to Nose Test after intervention

    Baseline (within 7 days ahead to the 1st intervention session) and after 4-week intervention (within 7 days after the last intervention session)

  • Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events [safety and tolerability]

    Within 10 minutes after each intervention session (a total of 12 sessions, 3 sessions/week, lasting 4 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitation

EXPERIMENTAL

The experiment group will receive HD-tCES combined with upper extremity rehabilitation of affected side.

Device: HD-tCESOther: Upper extremity rehabilitation

Sham HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitation

SHAM COMPARATOR

The sham control group will receive sham HD-tCES combined with upper extremity rehabilitation of affected side.

Device: Sham HD-tCESOther: Upper extremity rehabilitation

Interventions

HD-tCESDEVICE

The positions of the lesion side primary motor cortex were defined as C3/C4 according to the international 10-20 system of electroencephalograms. HD-tCES will be applied for 20 minutes at an intensity of 1.0 mA direct current stimulation and a specific-added waveform each time, 3 times a week, lasting for 4 weeks.

HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitation

The positions of the lesion side primary motor cortex were defined as C3/C4 according to the international 10-20 system of electroencephalograms. Sham HD-tCES will consist of a 5-second ramp up to 1.0 mA direct current stimulation and a specific-added waveform followed immediately by a 5-second ramp down, no current in the middle 19 minutes 40 seconds, and a ramp-up and ramp-down period during the last 10 seconds.

Sham HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitation

Upper extremity rehabilitation programs will be selected and graded in accordance with each patient's upper extremity function and specific aims of activities of daily living. Upper extremity rehabilitation will be provided for 30 minutes each time, 3 times a week, lasting for 4 weeks.

HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitationSham HD-tCES & upper extremity rehabilitation

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age ≥ 20 years.
  • Unilateral cerebral stroke with hemiplegia in Brunnstrom stage III-V.
  • months to 5 years after stroke.
  • Muscular inelasticity (spasticity) 1-3 on the affected upper limb, evaluated by the Modified Ashworth Scale.

You may not qualify if:

  • Extremely sensitive to electrical stimulation and cannot tolerate it.
  • Contracture on upper extremities, and limitation in joint range of motion.
  • The muscle tone was severe spasticity,
  • Ossification or inflammation in muscle tissue.
  • A history of cardiopulmonary disease or arrhythmia.
  • With implantable medical electronic devices, like pacemaker.
  • Pressure sores or wounds on the skin of head and upper extremities.
  • Metal implants in the head (neck).
  • Severe cognitive or psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder.
  • A history of seizure or other brain pathology.
  • Brain surgery or severe brain trauma.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Malignant neoplasm or rheumatism disorder, like SLE, RA, or AS.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital,Ministry of Health and Welfare

New Taipei City, Taiwan

Location

Taipei Medical University Hospital

Taipei, 110, Taiwan

Location

Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital - Taipei Medical University

Taipei, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Huang YJ, Wang SM, Chen C, Chen CA, Wu CW, Chen JJ, Peng CW, Lin CW, Huang SW, Chen SC. High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current with Electrical Theta Burst on Post-Stroke Motor Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2022 Sep;36(9):645-654. doi: 10.1177/15459683221121751. Epub 2022 Sep 1.

  • Wang SS, Huang YJ, Chen JJ, Wu CW, Chen CA, Lin CW, Nguyen VT, Peng CW. Designing and pilot testing a novel high-definition transcranial burst electrostimulation device for neurorehabilitation. J Neural Eng. 2021 Sep 17;18(5). doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac23be.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular Diseases

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 18, 2020

First Posted

February 20, 2020

Study Start

March 1, 2020

Primary Completion

March 12, 2021

Study Completion

March 12, 2021

Last Updated

April 1, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-03

Locations