Dual-tDCS and Anodal PMC tDCS Over the Contralesional Hemisphere on the Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patients
Stroke
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke focused on measuring tDCS, PMC, IHI, Stroke
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- First ever, unilateral, ischemic, subcortical stroke in the territories supplied by the Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) verified by brain imaging, at chronic stage (≥ 6 months).
- Upper Extremity impairment verified by Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)
- Mini Mental State Examination Score ≥ 24
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of epileptic seizures.
- Pre-stroke motor impairment(s) affecting UE.
- Presence of UE contractures or deformities.
- Botulinum toxin to UE muscles in the last 6 months.
- Presence of damaged skin on the scalp that would interfere with tDCS stimulation.
- Individuals with metallic implant in the brain or medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulator, cochlear implants).
- Use of CNS-affecting drugs.
- Additional neurological or psychiatric problem.
- Pregnancy.
Sites / Locations
- BrainStim Lab, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Dual-M1 tDCS
a-tDCS over contralesional PMC
Sham tDCS
In the M1- dual tDCS montage, the anodal electrode will be placed above ipsilesional M1 and the cathode will be positioned over contralesional M1.
In the anodal-tDCS for PMC, the anodal electrode will be placed over the contralesional PMC. The PMC is defined as being 2.5 cm anterior to the M1. The cathodal electrode will be positioned over the contralateral suborbital region
For sham stimulation, there is no particular electrode configuration to be followed, thus, 6 participants will receive sham stimulation with the configuration will be used in group A, and 5 participants will receive sham stimulation with the configuration will be used in group B. By pressing the sham button, the current will automatically ramped up over 10 sec. till reaching 1 mA, then it will be decreased gradually over 30 seconds till turning off the apparatus. This is to ensure the typical initial itching sensation