NCT04752319

Brief Summary

The overall goal is to investigate the effectiveness of a novel intervention - Breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim) on finger flexor spasticity reduction and hand function improvement in chronic stroke with moderate impairment after a long-term use.

Trial Health

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Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
4

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
23mo left

Started Sep 2025

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

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

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress26%
Sep 2025Mar 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 10, 2021

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 12, 2021

Completed
4.6 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2025

Completed
2.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 30, 2027

Expected
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 31, 2028

Last Updated

February 24, 2025

Status Verified

February 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.1 years

First QC Date

February 10, 2021

Last Update Submit

February 20, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Finger flexor spasticityMotor RecoveryBreEStim

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in finger flexor spasticity measured by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    MAS will be performed to check changes of finger flexor spasticity after one session of treatment. The Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) scoring is categorical and ranges from 0 to 4, as follows: 0: No increase in muscle tone 1. Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension 1+: Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder (less than half) of the range of motion (ROM) 2. More marked increase in muscle tone through most of the ROM, but affected part(s) easily moved 3. Considerable increase in muscle tone, passive movement difficult 4. Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension

    Baseline, after 10 intervention sessions, about 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in finger extensors and hand function measured by Fugl Myer Assessment (FMA) Scale

    Baseline, after 10 intervention sessions, about 3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

BreEStim

EXPERIMENTAL

BreEStim is voluntary breathing controlled transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Device: BreEStim

EStim

EXPERIMENTAL

EStim is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Device: EStim

Interventions

BreEStimDEVICE

BreEStim will be applied for 10 to 20 minutes per session for multiple sessions

BreEStim
EStimDEVICE

EStim will be applied for 10 to 20 minutes per session for multiple sessions

EStim

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 75 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • has post stroke ≥ 6 months , medically stable;
  • Unilateral, single stroke (no restriction on type (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or volume (large or small) of stroke);
  • MAS score ≥ 1, i.e., detectable finger flexor hypertonia;

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients with visual deficit/neglect; hearing or cognitive impairment;
  • Patients with history of pulmonary disease (Asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, COPD);
  • Patients that are currently adjusting tone alternating medications (e.g., baclofen), or
  • Patients received botulinum toxin injection to the arm/fingers \<4 months, or phenol injections \< 2 years;
  • Patients with a pacemaker;
  • Women who are pregnant.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

The University of Texas Health Science Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Location

Study Officials

  • Sheng Li, MD, PhD

    University of Texas

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

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
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 10, 2021

First Posted

February 12, 2021

Study Start

September 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2028

Last Updated

February 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations