View clinical trials related to Hemiparesis.
Filter by:People who are living in the community following a stroke fall frequently. The ability to take a step in response to a balance disturbance helps to prevent falls but stroke survivors tend not to step with their paretic leg in these circumstances. This leaves them vulnerable to falls towards their paretic side. The purpose of this study is to train paretic limb stepping by having individuals stand sideways on a treadmill and respond to sudden accelerations of the treadmill.
This study evaluates a new rehabilitation approach for stroke survivors in the chronic phase of recovery in which the combination of drug therapy (cyproheptadine) and active movement practice (AMP) is used to encourage increased voluntary muscle control and strength.
Overall aim is to evaluate HAL for gait training early after stroke and the effect of HAL on short- and long-term functioning, disability and health compared to conventional gait training as part of an inpatient rehabilitation program early after stroke.
The studies conducted so far concerning the medical and paramedical cares provided to patients with profound and multiple disabilities (PMD) often show important limitations: samples are too small or very heterogeneous, generally constituted of children only; studies are mainly cross-sectional and retrospective, focusing on very specific issues instead of assessing health and quality of life from a more global perspective… So far, the investigators found no published data from a prospective cohort study involving a representative sample of patients with PMD. The present project aims to set up such a cohort so as to describe for the first time the natural history of French patients with PMD as well as the cares they receive at home or within the different dedicated structures in France. This cohort will also make it possible to identify the factors responsible for differences in the cares patients are provided, the consequences of these differences on their health and their quality of life (and those of their relatives) as well as the evolutions of these data over time. It will then allow for assessing the effectiveness of the French healthcare system to care for patients with PMD as well as building a frame of reference regarding the best cares to provide to these patients. The primary goal of this study is to identify the determinants of health among patients with PMD.
Rationale: About 80% of stroke patients suffer motor impairments, but current therapies have limited effects on motor recovery. Therefore, investigating new potential therapeutic approaches is crucial. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive electrical stimulation where a weak current is applied through electrodes over the scalp. This stimulation is known to (1) induce changes in neuronal excitability -which can last up to one day with late LTP-like plasticity protocols- in a polarity and site-specific manner, and (2) facilitate motor learning and stroke recovery. However, it is unknown how the motor cortex excitability changes that follow tDCS relate to the increase in motor learning and recovery potential. The currently upheld hypothesis is that motor learning needs to be synchronized in time with electrical stimulation (paired stimulation), but recent results from our lab suggest that tDCS also increases skill learning after stimulation has ended (unpaired stimulation). If this is true, tDCS has a much larger therapeutic window and is a more valuable clinical tool than currently believed. Therefore, the investigators want to investigate how late LTP-like plasticity tDCS affects the increase in skill learning normally seen with tDCS when applied 24 hours before training. The outcome of this study can provide important guidelines on effective motor therapy during stroke rehabilitation. Objective: Identify the effect of late LTP-like plasticity tDCS in chronic stroke patients on skill learning 24 hours later. Study design: Double-blinded, randomized between-subjects trials. Study population: Chronic stroke patients. Main study parameters/endpoints: The main objective of the study is to determine the effect of late LTP-like plasticity tDCS on skill learning 24 hours later. As a motor learning paradigm, the investigators will use a circuit tracking task which chronic stroke patients perform better if tDCS is applied concurrently. During this task, patients have to trace a cursor over a circuit as fast and accurately as possible by moving a computer mouse. Skill will be quantified by calculating a combined speed/ accuracy score and skill improvement compared to baseline (LI; the learning index) will be compared between the sham, conventional unpaired tDCS, conventional paired tDCS groups and the late LTP-like plasticity tDCS groups.
Rationale: About 80% of stroke patients suffer motor impairments, but current therapies have limited effects on motor recovery. Therefore, investigating new potential therapeutic approaches is crucial. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive electrical stimulation where a weak current is applied through electrodes over the scalp. This stimulation is known to (1) induce changes in neuronal excitability -which can last up to one day with late LTP-like plasticity protocols in a polarity and site-specific manner, and (2) facilitate motor learning and stroke recovery. So far, several pilot studies have reported beneficial results from tDCS in both subacute and chronic stroke patients, but it's still unclear how tDCS should be repeated over multiple days to optimally enhance recovery and training effects. Using a late LTP-like plasticity protocol could increase effectiveness of standard clinical care rehabilitation sessions and thus enhance the effects of rehabilitation. Therefore, the investigators want to investigate how late LTP-like plasticity tDCS affects rehabilitation in subacute stroke patients. The outcome of this study can provide important guidelines on effective motor therapy during stroke rehabilitation. Objective: Identify the effect of late LTP-like plasticity on motor rehabilitation during the subacute phase after stroke. Study design: Double-blinded, randomized between-subjects trials. Study population: Subacute stroke patients. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome measure is the upper limb motor function during the subacute phase after stroke.
The Baby CHAMP Study is a multisite clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health that is examining the the use of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) for infants and toddlers as a effective treatment, since there have been no randomized control trials (RCT) for the age range as well as monitor the stress levels as related by self-report of parents or biological indicators. Infants and toddlers who meet study eligibility requirements at one of the three clinical sites (Charlottesville, VA, Columbus, OH, and Roanoke, VA) will be invited to enroll, and their parents will be provided all necessary paperwork along with informational documentation.
Impairment of arm function is more common than lower limb impairment in stroke patients and is also more resistant to treatment. Several clinical trials with stroke patients have produced statistically significant gains in upper limb function when using instrumental playing and treatments where rhythm supports the priming and timing of movements. Based on the positive results from controlled and non-controlled trials, the Cochrane review of music therapy for acquired brain injury (Bradt, et al., 2010) recommends further investigation into rhythm based techniques to treat hemiparesis in stroke patients, and that future studies need to examine the relationship between the frequency and duration of interventions and treatment effects. The aim of this study is to examine whether or not a thirty minute, twice weekly, six week, home music therapy treatment, playing set musical patterns on instruments to music is feasible to deliver, and will lead to improved coordination, dexterity and activities of daily living in hemiparetic stroke patients. Twelve patients will be recruited from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS trust (CCS) who are between one month and two years post stroke with hemiparesis. Participants will have completed and been discharged from community rehabilitation for their upper limb and not be receiving any other treatment for arm function. They will be randomised into two groups: treatment (for immediate treatment following discharge from community rehab) and waiting list (beginning 9 weeks after baseline measure). Participants will be assessed at the beginning and end of treatment (just before starting and just after completing 6 weeks of treatment) by one of two experienced community occupational therapists under contract with CCS, who are also experienced in working with stroke patients and who will be blind to the experiment. The other three measures will be conducted by the chief investigator. The assessment tools will be the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and nine hole peg test (9HPT). There will also be a pre and post treatment semi-structured interview for each participant, which will be conducted by the chief investigator. ARAT and 9HPT assessments will be administered to all participants at the same time points: baseline and then at week 6, 9, 15 and 18. Data will be analysed to determine if the treatment is effective compared to no treatment (wait list) following community discharge, and whether earlier intervention (treatment group) yields better results for participants, all of whom will eventually receive treatment.
In the situation of motor limitations that people often experience after stroke, current health systems cannot provide for the daily amount and duration of high intensity muscle stretch and motor training that would be required over protracted periods to involve muscle and brain plasticity. For patients with sufficient cognitive abilities, Guided Self-rehabilitation Contracts allow implementing stretch and training at high intensity and may result in meaningful functional improvement in chronic stages, as long as discipline persists over at least a year span. This single blind control protocol will evaluate Guided Self-rehabilitation Contracts as against conventional therapy in the community, for a one year duration in persons with chronic hemiparesis after stroke.
This is a small pilot randomized controlled trial which will enroll both subacute (<6 mos) and chronic (>6 mos) stroke survivors with ankle dorsiflexion weakness. The subjects will be randomized to Contralaterally Controlled Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (CCNMES) versus control. The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of 6-weeks of lower extremity CCNMES, applied in an anti-phase application, on motor impairment and functional mobility to a control group.