View clinical trials related to Hemiparesis.
Filter by:This is a feasibility study to alter the Microsoft Kinect software to be used as a rehabilitation tool. The prototype used is still in the early developing stage. The purpose of this research study is to develop a prototype of altered Microsoft Kinect Software and determine its use in improving the function of the study subjects' weaker extremities. The altered software will allow a viewing of the mirror image of the involved limb as it is moved. However, the image that is viewed will reflect normal movement even if the limb cannot move normally. By viewing normal movement of the weaker limbs the "mirror neuron" network in the brain will become activated and will ultimately improve the function of the weaker side.
This project is a continuing study from the FEATHERS project (NCT02290353) which focuses on developing novel home therapy program for persons with hemiparesis. This study will focus on examining motor behaviour and adaptation in neurodevelopmental hemiparesis (cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (ABI)). New algorithms for motion control involved in encouraging active movement are developed and will be tested, but the study has the same therapeutic goal and focus as the original FEATHERS project of creating an engaging at-home bimanual upper limb training program. By incorporating existing gaming technology, we hope to discover novel ways to adapt commercial motion tracking controllers and visual feedback into engaging rehabilitative learning tools. This study will focus on a basic science aspect of human bimanual movements that can be incorporated into future applications of the full FEATHERS project devices. We believe that together these approaches will yield interventions that significantly improve functional ability and lead to improved quality of life.
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S. Individuals with hemiparesis due to stroke often have difficulty bearing weight on their legs and transferring weight from one leg to the other. The ability to bear weight on the legs is important during functional movements such as rising from a chair, standing and walking. Diminished weight transfer contributes to asymmetries during walking which commonly leads to greater energy expenditure. Moreover, deficits in bearing weight on the paretic leg contribute to lateral instability and are associated with decreased walking speed and increased risk of falling in individuals post-stroke. These functional limitations affect community participation and life quality. Thus, restoring the ability to bear weight on the legs, i.e., limb loading, is a critical goal for rehabilitation post-stroke. The purpose of this research is to identify the impairments in neuromechanical mechanisms of limb loading and determine whether limb loading responses can be retrained by induced forced limb loading.
The aim of this study is to compare the effects of virtual and real boxing training in addition to neurodevelopmental training on cognitive status, upper extremity functions, balance and activities of daily living in hemiparetic stroke patients.
The objective of this project is to study the effects of an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation strategy in human stroke survivors with movement-related disability. Muscle weakness after stroke results from the abnormal interaction between cells in the brain that send commands to control movement and cells in the spinal cord that cause muscles to produce movement. The neuromodulation strategy central to this project has been shown the strengthen the physical connection between both cells, producing a change in movement potential of muscles weakened by stroke.
The purpose of the study is to induce plasticity in corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses serving an intrinsic hand muscle of the hemiparetic limb in humans with stroke. Neurologically-intact controls are included to verify that an effect was present in absence of stroke. Outcome measures in controls also provide a reference point that help us to understand the size of the effect and mechanisms mediating the effect in the neurologically-intact system.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate if multiple therapy sessions of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) combined with robotic arm therapy lead to a greater functional recovery in upper limb mobility after stroke than that provided by robotic arm therapy in a sham stimulation condition.
The ArmeoSpring device is an exoskeleton (3 joints and 6 degrees of freedom) with integrated springs. The investigators hypothesize that 3 days of training for 6 weeks with the Hocoma Armeo Spring device will be efficient and more effective than one on one ArmeoSpring therapy.
Rehabilitation options for stroke survivors who present severe hemiparesis in chronic stages are limited and may end in compensation techniques that involve the use of the less affected arm to achieve some degree of functional independence. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that has been used after stroke to promote excitability of the surviving neural architecture in order to support functional recovery. Interestingly, cortical excitability has been reported to increase when tDCS is combined with virtual reality. This synergetic effect could explain the promising results achieved by preliminary experimental interventions that combined both approaches on upper limb rehabilitation after stroke. The objective of this study is to explore the use of these interventions in subjects with severe hemiparesis and to determine its efficacy in comparison to conventional physical therapy
Repetitious motor therapy has been shown to yield the greatest improvement in motor function in those who suffer hemiplegia because of a neurological impairment. However, motor therapy remains largely clinically based due to the absence of quantitative home-based therapy technology or equipment. With the current lack of accountability, patient adherence to home exercise physical therapy programs is estimated to be as low as 35%. In response, some companies have extended the applications of their motion capture devices to be used for home-based physical therapy. However, the technologies often have not passed their initial stages of development. In contrast, a company named 4D Motion is actively working alongside the Restorative Neurology Clinic at Burke Medical Research Institute to develop a motion capture system tailored to the motor rehabilitation of hemiplegic stroke patients. This device is driven by a user's active range of motion and does not impart electrical or mechanical stimulation to the user. The device does not force the user beyond their active range of motion and does not apply resistance to motion that limits the user's capability. The 4D Motion capture system is only used to record what the patient is doing and to promote adherence to their prescribed physical therapy plan.