Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Introduction: Stroke is a sudden illness, responsible for important neurological and cognitive sequelae that can result in functional limitations and dependence. It is the leading cause of neurological impairment in young adults and resting-related muscle loss is one of the major factors involved. Early rehabilitation is essential for these patients and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been identified as an intervention alternative due to its known effects on the prevention of muscle loss in patients with various pathologies. Objective: To evaluate the effects of NMES associated with conventional physiotherapy compared to conventional physiotherapy on muscle thickness and functionality of patients with acute stroke. Methodology: This is a randomized clinical trial, which will be performed at the Emergency and Unit Unit of the Stroke of the Hospital de Clínicas of Porto Alegre (HCPA). Patients with acute stroke, with up to 72 hours of hospital admission, who present with lower limb force deficit due to the current stroke will be included. Patients will be randomized into two groups: intervention group, who will receive the application of NMES associated with conventional physiotherapy and control group, who will receive the conventional physiotherapy of the HCPA. NMES training will be applied once a day (30 minutes of application per session with an increase of five minutes each week and gradual reduction in OFF time), five days a week until hospital discharge or up to a maximum of three weeks. The following outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention: quadriceps and tibial thickness and quality of the quadriceps and tibialis anterior, muscle strength, stroke severity, gait, functionality and disability.


Clinical Trial Description

Stroke is the leading cause of neurological impairment in young adults, and early rehabilitation is essential for the recovery of these patients.

It is already known that muscle loss is one of the main factors responsible for functional disability and dependence in stroke survivors, being observed already in the acute phase and mainly in the lower limbs. The physiological mechanisms involved in stroke-related muscle loss, such as muscle inactivity, denervation, malnutrition, inflammation and metabolic disorders, among others have been reported in studies, but there is no consistent evidence regarding effective therapies to avoid muscle loss.

The NMES is already widely used for the prevention of muscular loss in patients with various pathologies. Studies have also reported the efficacy of NMES in patients with subacute or chronic stroke. In patients with acute stroke, the literature is rather scarce. The investigators are aware of only one study that evaluated the effects of NMES on muscle mass loss, but the authors did not evaluate the effects of this intervention on the physical performance or functionality of the patients. Thus, the investigators consider the importance of further studies to know the effects of NMES on muscle loss in patients with acute stroke and the need to evaluate the effects of NMES on the physical performance functionality of these patients aiming at the possibility of offering an intervention option precocious and effective for this population.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of NMES associated with conventional physiotherapy compared to conventional physiotherapy in the muscular architecture and functionality of patients with acute stroke.

This is a randomized clinical trial in which the participants will be randomly divided into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG), being evaluated before and after the intervention.

The sample will be composed of hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute stroke at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA).

The estimated sample is 70 patients (35 in each group). Waiting for a 0.5 cm difference in muscle thickness between groups and a standard deviation of 0.68 and 2 of 0.80, with a significance level of 5%, 80% power.

Randomization will be performed through data generated by a computer program that presents the coded distribution. The sequence generation of the numbers to be randomized will be performed by a researcher blind to the study - after selection of the patients according to the eligibility criteria - keeping it confidential until the beginning of the intervention.

Data collect:

Socio-demographic data will be collected such as: age and sex; anthropometric variables: weight, height and BMI; and clinical data: stroke region, side of hemiparesis, comorbidities, complications during the hospitalization period (eg pneumonia, need for decompressive craniectomy), functional condition prior to the current stroke, time to start physical therapy, time to onset of NMES, total time of NMES, time to reach orthostasis and time to start ambulation. These data will be obtained through the review of medical records and interviews with patients or relatives.

Assessments: The evaluations described below will be performed within 72 hours of hospital admission and repeated at hospital discharge or within 21 days.

Assessment of muscle architecture - The assessment of muscle thickness will be performed in the femoral and tibial quadriceps muscles (TA). The images will be obtained by ultrasound using the Portable Ultrasound System (Vivid i®, GE) with a linear arrangement probe (60mm, 7.5 MHz - Vivid i®, GE). The same researcher (who will be blinded for the interventions) will do all the evaluations, which will be performed with the musculature at rest.

Muscle Strength Assessment: Manual Dynamometry, Medical Research Council (MRC)

Functional and Inability Assessment: Barthel's Index Modified

Walking assessment and functional capacity: Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03840954
Study type Interventional
Source Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Contact Graciele Sbruzzi, doctor
Phone +55(51)33577334
Email gsbruzzi@hcpa.edu.br
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date August 30, 2019
Completion date August 30, 2022

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT05378035 - DOAC in Chinese Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Completed NCT03679637 - Tablet-based Aphasia Therapy in the Acute Phase After Stroke N/A
Completed NCT03574038 - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as a Neuroprotection in Acute Stroke N/A
Completed NCT03633422 - Evaluation of Stroke Patient Screening
Completed NCT04088578 - VNS-supplemented Motor Retraining After Stroke N/A
Withdrawn NCT04991038 - Clinical Investigation to Compare Safety and Efficacy of DAISE and Stent Retrievers for Thrombectomy In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05534360 - Tenecteplase Treatment in Ischemic Stroke Registry
Withdrawn NCT05786170 - ERILs Und SNILs Unter SOC N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT04105322 - Effects of Kinesio Taping on Balance and Functional Performance in Stroke Patients N/A
Recruiting NCT03132558 - Contrast Induced Acute Kidney in Patients With Acute Stroke N/A
Completed NCT02893631 - Assessment of Hemostasis Disorders in rtPA-treated Patients Requiring Endovascular Treatment for Ischemic Stroke
Active, not recruiting NCT02274727 - Biomarker Signature of Stroke Aetiology Study: The BIOSIGNAL-Study
Completed NCT02225730 - Imaging Collaterals in Acute Stroke (iCAS)
Terminated NCT01705353 - The Role of HMGB-1 in Chronic Stroke N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT01581502 - SAMURAI-NVAF Study: Anticoagulant Therapy for Japanese Stroke Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) N/A
Completed NCT01182818 - Fabry and Stroke Epidemiological Protocol (FASEP): Risk Factors In Ischemic Stroke Patients With Fabry Disease N/A
Completed NCT00761982 - Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Middle Cerebral Artery Acute Stroke Treatment. Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT00535197 - Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Ischemic Stroke. Phase 1/Phase 2
Terminated NCT00132509 - FRALYSE Trial: Comparison of the Classical Rt-PA Procedure With a Longer Procedure in Acute Ischemic Stroke Phase 2
Recruiting NCT05760326 - Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of Clot Analysis in Stroke Patients