Active clinical trials for "Stroke"

Botulinum toxin type A (BtxA) injection and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) are both promising approaches to enhance recovery after stroke. However, the combined application of the two modalities has rarely been studied. The aim was to investigate whether combined BtxA and mCIMT would produce greater improvements in spasticity and upper extremity function than BtxA plus conventional rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients with upper extremity spasticity.

Our primary goal is to study temporal trends in the incidence rate, causes, treatment, and outcome of stroke among a large biracial metropolitan population of 1,349,351, of whom 215,611 (15%) are black (2000 Census). Such data are critical for the planning, intervention, and evaluation of public health efforts to decrease the mortality and morbidity due to stroke in the United States. We have completed this goal for 1993-94, 1999, 2005, 2010 and 2015. We are in the process of collecting this data for 2020. In the 2020 study period we will also be ascertaining 3 year recurrence rates for all incident stroke events.

Many stroke survivors exhibit persistent upper limb motor deficits and a non-functional upper limb. There is some promising information that suggests motor learning (ML) in conjunction with functional electrical stimulation (FES; surface FES; nothing implanted; use of a commercially available system) of wrist/finger muscles can significantly enhance the functional level of the upper limb. There have been promising studies showing that some subjects in the chronic phase (greater than 6 months after stroke) responded favorably to combination FES and ML (FES ML). In our pilot studies, FES ML for those in the chronic phase (>12 months) produced statistically significant functional recovery. FES was applied using a commercially available, two-channel FES system, with electrodes applied to the surface of the skin (non-invasive). But if upper limb dysfunction is not immediately treated, that is within the sub-acute phase (less than 6 months) following stroke, the following problems can develop: contractures and other soft tissue changes; chronic pain; and ingrained, abnormal, non-functional movement patterns. The more long-standing these symptoms are, the more resistant to treatment they become. Therefore, it is important to provide promising interventions prior to the onset of chronic symptoms and dysfunction. Those in the sub-acute phase after stroke should be provided with FES ML, in order to more completely restore function for a greater number of stroke survivors. Specific Aims and Hypotheses The goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of the proposed treatment in the sub acute phase following stroke. HYPOTHESIS. FES ML for 3hrs/day, five days/week, for 12 weeks will be feasible to implement in the sub-acute phase following stroke (2 -24 weeks). Study Design a. Specific Procedures This is a pilot study to test the feasibility of using FES ML for upper extremity rehabilitation in a sub-acute stroke population. It is a randomized, controlled, single-blind design. Subjects will be 2 - 24 weeks after a single stroke. The control group will receive standard care for upper limb rehabilitation consisting of passive and active exercise, stretching, bracing, and use of adaptive devices. The experimental group will receive the experimental intervention in addition to their standard care. CONTROL GROUP INTERVENTION. The control group will receive the standard medical care prescribed by the primary physician and covered by the subject's health care policy. Standard care will include: soft tissue mobilization; assisted motion exercise; active motion exercise; resistive exercise; task practice; use of assistive devices; and modality applications conventionally prescribed. FES ML INTERVENTION. The research treatment duration will be 3hrs/day, five days per week. The subjects will be present for a fourth hour each day, which will be used for breaks and rest periods that will be interspersed throughout the intervention time. The treatment duration is derived from prior work. We will stimulate muscles in a number of configurations including: wrist extension and finger extension; wrist extension and finger flexion; and wrist extension, finger flexion, and thumb abduction and opposition. Motor learning will include the performance of functional task components and full task practice during the use of FES. FES will be triggered by the patient, the treating therapist, or it will be automatically sequenced by the device according to alternate channel activations, with timings pre-set by the treating therapist. MEASURES. Data will be collected at weeks 1, 6, 12 (end of treatment), and 6 months after the end of treatment. Population The subjects will be sub-acute stroke survivors (2-24 weeks after stroke).

The purpose of the study is to examine how a novel robot technology designed for eventual use as a home therapy can improve arm function after stroke.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a Home-based Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (hCIMT) compared to a Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) delivered in a outpatient setting on upper limb motor recovery in stroke survivors.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether pharyngeal electrical stimulation in addition to standard care can enhance swallowing recovery in severely dysphagic stroke patients post extubation compared to sham treatment plus standard care.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether super-selective intra-arterial administration of verapamil immediately following successful intra-arterial thrombolysis is safe as a potential neuroprotective agent. Standard procedures are cerebral angiography and intra-arterial thrombolysis (intra-arterial administration of tPA and/or mechanical thrombectomy). Experimental procedure is superselective injection of verapamil intra-arterially.

The purpose of this study is to verify if the incorporation of a new brace, which assists in gait rehabilitation, can contribute to the rehabilitation process for stroke patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether reducing a patients body temperature (mild hypothermia of 33 degrees Centigrade) will significantly reduce the risk of brain injury (notably reperfusion injury and hemorrhagic conversion) in patients that have suffered a significant interruption of blood flow to an area of brain (occlusion of large proximal cerebral artery) and have undergone successful removal of that interruption (revascularization).

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate if it is safe to use tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within 6 hours of stroke onset when combined with hypothermia.