Proprioceptive Error Correction for Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age19+
SponsorSungkyunkwan University
About this trial
The investigators aim to develop sensory transformation and augmentation technologies that minimize the impact of proprioceptive errors, thereby significantly enhancing motor learning and rehabilitation of the upper limbs. This study is designed to test proprioceptive error compensation techniques in stroke patients.
The human nervous system often receives mismatched information from vision and proprioception during upper limb control, resulting in conflicting sensory inputs that limit the effectiveness of motor learning. In other words, real-time sensory feedback - a critical component of motor learning in the nervous system - is not reliably delivered. Therefore, this study seeks to resolve sensory conflicts by providing additional sensory information through electrical stimulation, with the goal of dramatically improving the effectiveness of motor learning.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Diagnosed with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
Stroke confirmed by CT or MRI
Stroke patients with proprioceptive sensory deficits
Chronic stroke patients with onset at least 3 months prior
Disqualifiers
Severe pain during elbow joint movement
Elbow joint contracture, spasticity, ataxia, musculoskeletal disorders, fractures, - non-healing ulcers, or open wounds
Progressive or unstable stroke
Presence of unilateral neglect
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Electrical stimulation cue
BehavioralA single 30-minute session is provided. Electrodes are attached to the cubital fossa, and stimulation is delivered at a frequency that increases up to 70 Hz as the elbow joint approaches the target angle. Target angles are set between 0 degrees and 120 degrees, based on each participant's available range of motion determined during the initial assessment. Participants adjust their elbow joint angle to match the provided target angle using feedback from the electrical stimulation. When the elbow joint angle matches the target angle, the maximum frequency is applied to the cubital fossa. Participants match their elbow joint angle to the target angle based on the given frequency.
Visual stimulation cue
BehavioralA single 30-minute session is provided. The difference between the current elbow joint angle and the pre-set target angle is displayed on a screen using two colored needles (a red needle for the target angle and a black needle for the current elbow joint angle). The target angle is set within each participant's available range of motion based on the initial assessment. Participants continue the intervention by adjusting their elbow angle using the visual feedback. When the elbow joint angle matches the target angle, the two needles overlap. Based on this visual cue, participants adjust their elbow joint angle to match the target angle.
No cue
BehavioralA single 30-minute session is provided. The target angle is determined within each participant's available range of motion based on the initial assessment. Throughout the session, participants receive verbal feedback from the assessor and adjust their elbow joint angle accordingly to match the target angle.
Treatment groups
3 Participants
are divided into 6 treatment groups6
Treatment groupsSee each treatment group below.
Group A: Electrical stimulation cue firstExperimental treatment 3 interventions
Group B: Visual stimulation cue firstExperimental treatment 3 interventions
Group C: No cue firstExperimental treatment 3 interventions
Group D: Only electrical stimulation cueExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group E: Only visual stimulation cueExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group F: Only no cueExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Improvement in upper limb motor function
Upper limb motor function will be evaluated using standardized clinical scales such as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and proprioceptive accuracy tests. 0 indicates severe movement limitation, while a score of 66 reflects normal motor function of upper limb. Participants will undergo evaluations and treatment during six visits over approximately three weeks.
Time frame
6 visits over 3 weeksSecondary outcomes
1
Proprioceptive accuracy
Assessment of improvements in upper limb motor function and proprioceptive accuracy after applying sensory error correction techniques in stroke patients. Motor performance will be evaluated using standardized clinical scales and joint position sense tests. The expected outcome measures are a reduction of the error angle relative to the target angle to within ±5 degrees.
Time frame
Baseline before intervention and immediately after the 30-minute training sessionSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov