View clinical trials related to Stroke.
Filter by:Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the main cause of acquired adult disability in high-income countries. The most common deficit after stroke is motor impairment of the contralateral arm, with more than 80% of stroke survivors experiencing this condition in the acute phase, and only half regaining some useful upper limb function after six months. Within the European project RETRAINER (grant agreement No 644721), the consortium developed a platform for the rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke, which combines a passive arm exoskeleton for weight relief supporting both shoulder and elbow movements, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of the two-most impaired muscles of the affected side, interactive objects, and voluntary effort. The system also provides a graphical user interface which helps the therapist set the training session and save the training data and parameters, and provides the subject a visual feedback about his/her active involvement in the exercise. The training consists of the execution of a series of exercises involving the affected arm during daily life activities. Typical exercises are anterior reaching on a plane or in the space, moving an object on a plane or in the space, moving the hand to the mouth, with or without an object in the hand, and lateral elevation of the shoulder. The aim of this clinical study it to evaluate the efficacy of this novel training platform on patients between two weeks and nine months after their first stroke, who preserved at least a visible muscle contraction for the arm and shoulder muscles. Participants are randomized in an experimental and a control group. The control group is trained with an advanced rehabilitative program, including physical training, occupational therapy, FES, and virtual reality, while the experimental group is trained with the RETRAINER system for about 30 minutes, in addition to the same program of the control group. The daily training time is the same for the two groups. The intervention consists of three sessions a week for nine weeks. Patients are assessed at baseline, soon after the end of the intervention, and in a 4-week follow-up visits. It is planned to recruit 68 subjects for this study. Since the RETRAINER platform was built on the up-to-date theory of motor re-learning, which supports task-oriented repetitive training, a close temporal association between motor intention and stimulated motor response, and an intensive and frequent training paradigm, the study's hypothesis is that the experimental group shows a greater treatment effect than the control group.
The most commonly observed sequel after stroke is muscle weakness, which can also be identified in respiratory muscles, in the acute and chronic phases, and may compromise the lung function of these individuals. Studies have shown that lower Pimax values are found in non-community ambulators, and gait velocity has been reported as an important indicator of functionality after stroke, with higher gait velocity values associated with greater community participation and better quality of life. This study will test the hypothesis that training of the inspiratory muscles is effective in improving strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles and functionality, including speed of gait, functional gait perfomarnce, activities of daily living and quality of life with stroke subjects. For this clinical trial, people after stroke will be randomly allocated into either experimental or control/sham groups. The experimental group will undertake training of the inspiratory muscles with the Power Breath Medical Classic device regulated at 50% of the subjects' maximal inspiratory pressure values, five times/week over six weeks, twice a day for 15 minutes, totaling 30 minutes/day. The control group will undertake the same protocol, but the participants will receive the devices with a minimal load, wich corresponds to 1cmH2O. Both groups will participate in the rehabilitation program for 6 weeks. At baseline and post intervention, after the cessation of the interventions, researchers blinded to group allocations will collect the following outcome measures: maximal respiratory pressures, respiratory muscle endurance, functional gait performance, activities of daily living and quality of life. After 12 weeks will collect again maximal inspiratory pressures and functional gait performance.
A novel body weight support device that uses pressurized pants may provide advantages in delivering gait therapy. The objectives of this study are to test the following hypotheses that 1) the novel device will allow for increased body weight support while improving or maintaining the same level of patient comfort; 2) the novel device will yield greater patient satisfaction with gait therapy relative to current harness systems; 3) therapists will be more satisfied with the use of the novel device relative to current harness systems; 4) the use of the novel device will require less total therapist time than a harness comparator; 5) the use of the novel device will increase therapeutic treatment time when compared with current harness systems.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of use the Nintendo Wii® (NW) and therapeutic exercises by the method Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in the recovery of the motor function of poststroke hemiparesis patients.
Post-stroke hemiparesis causes sequelae in the limbs and also in the trunk and abdomen structures. The level of physical activity decreases and cardiorespiratory training(CRT) is indicated to this population to improve the functions of several systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, muscular). The application of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facility(PNF) would imply in the awareness and greater harmony of the functions performed by the trunk of this individual. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of respiratory and trunk characteristics of the PNF associated with Cardiorespiratory training in quality of life, gait, distance traveled, peak oxygen consumption, respiratory muscle strength, thoracic cavity volumes, mobility and diaphragmatic thickness of individuals with post stroke.
This study will find out whether electrical stimulation of a nerve called the "vagus" nerve is acceptable for patients undergoing physiotherapy for arm weakness after a stroke. 20 patients will be recruited if they had a stroke between 4 and 48 months previously and have been left with reduced function in the affected arm. Patients will receive 3 sessions of physiotherapy per week for 6 weeks. Each session will last 1 hour during which the patient will be asked to perform specific movements e.g. shuffling cards, reaching for a shelf. With each arm movement the therapist will turn on a stimulator which is worn clipped to the patients ear. This will deliver a short burst of electricity creating a mild tingling sensation. At the end of the session, the stimulator will be removed and the patient will be asked to rate the level of any discomfort or fatigue they experienced as well as any other side effects. The therapist will also record whether the stimulator device interfered with the therapy in any way. A heart tracing will be performed at each visit to check the heart rhythm. At the start and end of the 6 week course of physiotherapy, patients arm weakness and level of arm function will be assessed, as well as their general levels of fatigue, mood and quality of life. These will be reassessed at 1 month and 6 months after the course of physiotherapy has ended. The investigators will also interview patients to establish how they found the treatment itself. If the vagal nerve stimulation combined with physiotherapy is acceptable to patients and therapists and there are no safety concerns, the investigators will plan a larger trial of this treatment in stroke patients.
Early stroke rehabilitation is known to be an effective and essential therapy in gaining functional independence and preventing complications. However, there was no consensus of proper amount of motor rehabilitation in stroke patients. In this study, the investigators investigated the effects of the intensive motor rehabilitation during subacute phase to improve motor function at 6 months after onset in patients with first-ever strokes.
Early stroke rehabilitation is known to be an effective and essential therapy in gaining functional independence and preventing complications. However, there was no consensus of proper amount of language rehabilitation in stroke patients. In this study, the investigators investigated the effects of the intensive language rehabilitation during subacute phase to improve language function in patients with first-ever strokes.
Early stroke rehabilitation is known to be an effective and essential therapy in gaining functional independence and preventing complications. However, there was no consensus of proper amount of cognitive rehabilitation in stroke patients. In this study, the investigators assess the effects of the intensive cognitive rehabilitation during subacute phase to improve cognitive function at 6 months after onset in patients with first-ever strokes.
To investigate public awareness of core stroke symptoms in more than 40 years old population and its related factors.