Active clinical trials for "Paresis"

A study will be performed where individuals with chronic stroke will be randomly assigned to receive 2 different dosages of robotic hand therapy. One group will receive 12 sessions of robot-assisted repetitive movement practice in the HEXORR robot over a 4-5 week period. A second group will receive 24 sessions of HEXORR therapy over a 8-10 week period.

The global loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging is a cause of functional impairment and disability, particularly in the older elderly (>80 years). Respiratory function can be severely compromised if there is a decrease of respiratory (RM) strength complicated by the presence of comorbidities and physical immobility. In this context, the need for supportive services involves the need for long-term care and consequently the institutionalization. Previous studies have shown that the increase of RM strength has positive healthy effects, such as the increase in functional capacity, the decrease in RM fatigue, the decrease of dyspnoea and the improvement of quality of life, both in healthy people and patients. Therefore, specific RM training may be regarded as a beneficial alternative to improve RM function, and thus prevent physical and clinical deterioration in this frail population. Study hypothesis: The inspiratory muscle training (IMT) would improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity and quality of life in an elderly population, who are unable to engage in general exercise conditioning.

Ankle dorsiflexor weakness (paresis) is one of the most frequently persisting consequences of stroke. The purpose of this exploratory study is to compare two different treatments -- Contralaterally Controlled Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (CCNMES) and Cyclic Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (cNMES) -- for improved recovery of ankle movement and better walking after stroke.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether split belt training can be used to treat walking pattern deficits from stroke and to determine whether different schedules and types of long term training on a custom split belt treadmill are likely to change/improve walking symmetry.

The purpose of this study is to determine if a modified protocol of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIT) is effective in rehabilitation treatment of arm paresis in children with cerebral palsy. In these children one main problem the non-use of the affected arm. Many studies showed that the non-use phenomenon can by reversed by the CIT, a rehabilitation program consisting of 15 days of restraining the unaffected arm plus a daily intensive (6 hours/day) physiotherapy training of the paretic arm. The present study aims at evaluating if a shortened CIT protocol (restraining device plus only 2 weekly hours of physiotherapy) is effective in improving use and function of children paretic arm

Impaired hand function is one of the most frequently persisting consequences of stroke. The purpose of this study is to compare two different treatments -- Contralataterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation (CCFES) and Cyclic Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (cNMES) -- for improved recovery of hand function after stroke.

The aim of this study is to examine whether the administration of the TQL block cause motor block of the lumbar plexus and thereby quadriceps muscle weakness. The investigators hypothesise that the administration of a unilateral TQL block does not cause quadriceps muscle weakness compared to a placebo block.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effect of audio-guided mental practice (MP) and video-guided MP on the impairment and functional abilities of upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis following a stroke. Participants are recruited from Adventist Healthcare Rehabilitation Hospital. All participants must be less than one-month post-stroke with moderate UE hemiparesis. Eligible participants are randomly assigned to an experimental group, (MP or repetitive-task practice (RTP)), or the control group. The MP groups will perform either audio-guided MP or video-guided MP, five days a week, with 20 repetitions of the following tasks: wiping a table, picking up a cup, brushing hair, and turning the pages of a book. The RTP group physically performed the same tasks. The control group received traditional stroke rehabilitation. The investigators hypothesize that video MP will have greater improvements in UE impairments and functional abilities than audio MP, RTP, and/or traditional therapy.

It is known that children with NF1 can have weak muscles and suffer from tiredness. It is also known that in similar conditions affecting children's muscles, standing on a vibration device for a few minutes each day can strengthen muscles and improve their ability to perform day-to-day activities. The investigators believe this vibrating platform can be used to strengthen the muscles of children with NF1 also, beyond standard exercises, and therefore allow them to perform day-to-day activities better, do more activity and feel less tired. If families are keen to take part in this study, the investigators will first need to check they are suitable for the trial. This will be based on the participant's age (6-16 years), their other medical problems that would affect use of the vibration device or tests to assess how effective it is, and their level of muscle weakness. Once families have agreed to take part, participants will be randomised either to receive a muscle-strengthening exercise session delivered by a physiotherapist that children with weak muscles should continue to perform daily for the next 6 months; or to receive a vibration device to take home and use for a few minutes 5 days a week for 6 months as well as the exercises. All participants will be invited to attend for a variety of activities and tests, just before starting the trial and 6 months later at the end of the trial to see if there is any benefit from the vibration device. The investigators will repeat these tests again 3 months later, to see if any benefits observed remain, even after the device is removed. They will involve jumping, hopping and balancing on a board, gripping a machine as hard and as long as possible, being fitted with a device that measures activity for 7 days, walking as far as possible for 6 minutes, scanning muscles using MRI, completing a tiredness and general well-being questionnaires, and parents completing a questionnaire of the participant's attention and intellect. The jumping will also be performed 3 months into the study, to see if there is any early improvement in this key test. All participants will be given full details of what the trial involves before taking part. As with any other trial, participants and their families are free to stop taking part at any time. Although the investigators do not anticipate any safety issues, if any do arise, the families will be asked to contact the trial team.

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.