Feasibility of tDCS as an Adjunct to Outpatient Physiotherapy in Children With ABI
Acquired Brain InjuryStroke2 moreThis study will evaluate the feasibility of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunct to an outpatient motor skills-based physiotherapy intervention for children and youth with acquired brain injury. Up to 10 children (age 5-18 years) with childhood onset stroke or traumatic brain injury will be randomly allocated to receive active or sham anodal tDCS immediately prior to the physiotherapy session. These sessions will occur twice weekly for a total of 10 sessions. Assessment of gross motor outcome measures will occur immediately before and after the combined tDCS and physiotherapy treatment protocol. The preliminary treatment effect between the two treatment groups will be compared and other feasibility indicators will be evaluated.
Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of the Robotic Enhanced Error Training of Upper Limb Function in...
StrokeBrain Injuries4 moreBackground: Cerebrovascular accident [CVA or commonly known as stroke] and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common causes of morbidity, and motor impairments. Many stroke and TBI patients encounter severe functional impairments of their arm and/or hand. Recent studies have indicated that robotic training can improve upper limb function by enabling repetitive, adaptive, and intensive training. One type of robotic training is error enhancement during three-dimensional movements. The goal of this approach is to elicit better accuracy, stability, fluidity and range of motion during reaching. Previous research indicated the potential of robotic training with error enhancement as a viable clinical intervention for individuals facing motor deficits. Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new robotic system based on error enhancement and intended for rehabilitation of motor hand functions of post-stroke and TBI patients. Methods: A randomized, multi-center study with an open-label design. The study sample will consist of 96 participants who will be randomized into 2 separate groups. The intervention group consisting of 48 patients will receive training with the new robotic system, while the control group consisting of additional 48 patients will receive only standard practice treatments (with no exposure to the new robotic system). The outcomes of safety (adverse events and treatment tolerability), and efficacy (motor function, speed, tone, and spasticity) will be assessed and compared between the two groups. The assessment of the outcomes will be conducted at four different time points: (1) prior to the initiation of the four-week intervention, (2) after 2 weeks of intervention, (3) at the conclusion of the intervention, and (4) at a three-month follow-up session.
Whole Body Vibration Versus Functional Strength Training On Balance In Children With Hemiparetic...
Cerebral PalsyHemiparesisThe study will be directed to compare which of whole body vibration (WBV) training and Functional strength training (FST) has better effect on balance in children with hemiparesis
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Adults Post-Stroke With Mild Upper Extremity Impairment...
CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)Stroke1 moreConstraint-Induced Therapy (CI Therapy) is a behavioral approach to neurorehabilitation and consists of multi-components that have been applied in a systematic method to improve the use of the limb or function addressed in the intensive treatment. CI Therapy for the more-affected upper extremity (UE) post-stroke is administered in daily treatment sessions over consecutive weekdays. Sessions include motor training with repeated, timed trials using a technique called shaping, a set of behavioral strategies known as the Transfer Package (TP) to improve the use of the more-affected hand in the life situation, and strategies to remind participants to use the more-affected UE including restraint. Robust improvements in the amount and qualify of use have been realized with stroke participants from mild-to-severe UE impairment.
Vitamin K2 and Muscle Weakness in Type 2 Diabetes
Diabete Type 2The aim of the current study is to determine the effects of vitamin K2 supplementation on muscle size and function in adults with muscle weakness and type 2 diabetes.
Pilot/Pivotal Study of DBS+Rehab After Stroke
StrokeUpper Extremity ParesisThe RESTORE Stroke Study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of DBS+Rehab for treating arm weakness and reduced function after a stroke.
Effectiveness of AOT Based on Virtual Reality in Stroke Rehabilitation.
StrokeHemiplegia1 moreRehabilitation of paretic stroke patients, aimed to improve function of the impaired upper limb, uses a wide range of intervention programs. A new rehabilitative approach, called Action Observation Therapy (AOT), based on the discovery of mirror neurons, has been used to improve motor functions of adult stroke patients and children with cerebral palsy. Recently, Virtual Reality (VR) provided the potential to increase the frequency and the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment and offered challenging and motivating tasks. The purpose of the present project is to design a randomized, controlled, six-month follow-up trial (RCT) for evaluating whether action observation (AO) added to standard VR (AO+VR) is effective in improving upper limb function in patients with stroke, compared with a control treatment consisting in observation of naturalistic scenes (CO) devoid of action content, followed by VR training (CO+VR). The AO+VR treatment may represent an extension of the current rehabilitative interventions available for recovery after stroke and the outcome of the project could allow to include this treatment within the standard sensorimotor training or in individualized tele-rehabilitation.
Robotic Enhanced Error Training of Upper Limb Function in Post-stroke Patients
CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)ParesisBackground: Stroke is a common cause of morbidity, including paresis, and stroke survivors often have reduced function in their paretic arm. Many do not regain full recovery of their arm function, which negatively impacts their quality of life. Recent studies have indicated that robotic training may improve upper limb function abilities among stroke survivors, by enabling repetitive, adaptive, and intensive training and more accurate control of task complexity. Robotic training in addition to standard rehabilitative care has shown promise for improving functional skills among stroke survivors. One type of robotic training is error enhancement, whereby an error made by the patient is exaggerated, increasing the signal to noise ratio which causes errors to be more noticeable. This, in turn, enhances movement correction. Previous studies have found that error enhancement has promise as a clinical treatment for patients with motor deficits. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of a robotic device (DeXtreme) on the functional capabilities of the paretic arm of stroke survivors. This device aims to improve arm function by utilizing error enhancement techniques. Methods: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study comparing treatment outcomes between two groups to assess the effect of error enhancement robotic training on functional use of the arm and hand in patients after stroke. Forty stroke patients will undergo 6 sessions of 25 minutes each with the Dextreme device. One group will receive training with error enhancement forces applied, while the control group will receive similar training without error enhancement. Outcomes (motor function, speed, tone, and spasticity) will be assessed twice prior to and following the treatment sessions,
Krill Oil and Muscle Weakness in Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes MellitusType 2The age-related loss of muscle mass and function, sarcopenia, has several deleterious effects, such as a reduction in the quality of life and an increase in the incidence of falls, often leading to hospitalisation. The prevalence of sarcopenia is unclear but is estimated to be between 4.6 and 7.9% and the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is accelerated in people with type 2 diabetes. With the percentage of older people and the percentage of people with type 2 diabetes predicted to rise in coming years it is crucial to develop therapies to increase muscle mass and function. Alterations in nutrition have also been suggested to be of therapeutic use in sarcopenia. Epidemiological data showed that the consumption of fatty fish is positively associated with muscle function in older population, indicating a potential role for long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFA) in increasing muscle mass and function in older people. The aim of the current study, therefore, is to determine the effects of krill oil supplementation on muscle size and function in adults with muscle weakness and type 2 diabetes.
Effects of Mirror Therapy and Cognitive Therapeutic Exercise in Stroke Patients
StrokeHemiparesisThis is a randomized clinical trial aimed at patients with a diagnosis of residual hemiparesis due to ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Its objective is to evaluate the effects of the mirror therapy and cognitive therapeutic exercise, both in combination with task-oriented motor learning, to achieve maximum functionality of the affected upper member,