Optimizing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Motor Recovery From Severe Post-stroke Hemiparesis
Stroke, Hemiparesis
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke focused on measuring neuroplasticity, rehabilitation, transcranial direct current stimulation, motor training
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- 12 or more months post-stroke
- Inability to extend the affected metacarpophalangeal joints at least 10 degrees and the wrist 20 degrees
Exclusion Criteria:
- Addition or change in dosage of drugs known to exert detrimental effects on motor recovery within 3 month of enrollment
- Untreated depression
- History of multiple strokes
Exclusion criteria for TMS evaluations:
- History of head injury with loss of consciousness
- History of severe alcohol or drug abuse, or psychiatric illness
- Positive pregnancy test or being of childbearing age and not using appropriate contraception
- Presence of ferromagnetic material in the cranium except in the mouth, including metal fragments from occupational exposure and surgical clips in or near the brain
- Cardiac or neural pacemakers
Sites / Locations
- University of Kentucky at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Anodal tDCS
Cathodal tDCS
Dual tDCS
Sham tDCS
Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active, excitatory transcranial direct current stimulation of the ipsilesional hemisphere at 1.4mA, followed by 2 hours of intensive motor therapy of the affected upper extremity.
Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active, excitatoryinhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation of the contralesional hemisphere at 1.4mA, followed by 2 hours of intensive motor therapy of the affected upper extremity.
Subjects will receive 20 minutes of active, excitatory transcranial direct current stimulation of the ipsilesional hemisphere and inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation of the contralesional hemisphere at 1.4mA, followed by 2 hours of intensive motor therapy of the affected upper extremity.
Subjects will receive 20 minutes of sham transcranial direct current stimulation, followed by 2 hours of intensive motor therapy of the affected upper extremity.