Active clinical trials for "Paresis"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether injections of botulinum toxin (commonly known as BOTOX®) into the affected hand of Stroke patients, while targeting the muscles controlling the hand, will lead to improved use of the hand when compared to injections of placebo (a substance that looks similar to the study drug but contains no active study medication).

This study will compare the effectiveness of unilateral versus bilateral exercise training for recovering movement abilities in chronic stroke patients. After a stroke, some people have improved their movement ability by exercising the arm affected by the stroke. Others have improved by exercising both arms together. This study will compare these two kinds of exercise to see which might work best. Healthy volunteers and people who have had a stroke more than 6 months ago may be eligible for this study. Stroke patients must have some weakness in their stroke-affected arm. All participants must be 18 years of age or older. Candidates are screened with a clinical and neurological examination. Women who can become pregnant have a pregnancy test. Stroke patients have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the brain if they have not had one in the last year. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: MRI: This procedure uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs. The subject lies on a table that slides into the scanner (a narrow cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking sounds that occur during the scanning process. The procedure lasts about 45 minutes, during which time the subject must lie still for up to 30 minutes. Testing sessions: There are six test sessions - two to familiarize the subject with the reaching test, two to do the reaching test plus transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after an exercise session, and two to do the reaching test plus TMS one day after the exercise session. The sessions are on consecutive days, with a 1-week break after session 3. The procedures involved are: Reaching test: The subject responds as quickly as possible to a "GO" signal presented on a computer monitor by performing a reaching movement with his or her arm. The activity from the arm muscles is recorded using surface electrodes. During this test, a questionnaire is used to determine the subject's attention, fatigue, and mood. TMS: For this test, a wire coil is held on the scalp, and a brief electrical current is passed through the coil, creating a magnetic pulse that stimulates the brain. During the stimulation, the subject may be asked to tense certain muscles slightly or perform other simple actions. The stimulation may cause a twitch in muscles of the face, arm, or leg, and the subject may hear a click and feel a pulling sensation on the skin under the coil. The effect of TMS on the muscles is detected with small metal disk electrodes taped onto the skin of the arms. The subject performs the reaching test while TMS is delivered at various times after getting the "GO" signal. Arm exercises: The subject is seated in front of an exercise device that has two handles that slide forward and backward along a set of tracks. The subject is asked to slide either one or both handles back and forth repeatedly, alternating 5 minutes of arm exercise with 5 minutes of rest for 30 minutes.

This is a feasibility study to alter the Microsoft Kinect software to be used as a rehabilitation tool. The prototype used is still in the early developing stage. The purpose of this research study is to develop a prototype of altered Microsoft Kinect Software and determine its use in improving the function of the study subjects' weaker extremities. The altered software will allow a viewing of the mirror image of the involved limb as it is moved. However, the image that is viewed will reflect normal movement even if the limb cannot move normally. By viewing normal movement of the weaker limbs the "mirror neuron" network in the brain will become activated and will ultimately improve the function of the weaker side.

Phase I: Exploring what stroke survivors exactly learn when recovering the ability to stand and walk.

Repetitious motor therapy has been shown to yield the greatest improvement in motor function in those who suffer hemiplegia because of a neurological impairment. However, motor therapy remains largely clinically based due to the absence of quantitative home-based therapy technology or equipment. With the current lack of accountability, patient adherence to home exercise physical therapy programs is estimated to be as low as 35%. In response, some companies have extended the applications of their motion capture devices to be used for home-based physical therapy. However, the technologies often have not passed their initial stages of development. In contrast, a company named 4D Motion is actively working alongside the Restorative Neurology Clinic at Burke Medical Research Institute to develop a motion capture system tailored to the motor rehabilitation of hemiplegic stroke patients. This device is driven by a user's active range of motion and does not impart electrical or mechanical stimulation to the user. The device does not force the user beyond their active range of motion and does not apply resistance to motion that limits the user's capability. The 4D Motion capture system is only used to record what the patient is doing and to promote adherence to their prescribed physical therapy plan.

To assess the incidence of hemi-diaphragmatic paresis following ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block

Initially, a written consent was obtained from each participant. Then they became familiar with the procedure. For intrarater reliability, the first rater assessed the strength of pinch grip, elbow flexion and shoulder abduction in three different sessions at short intervals on same day in same environmental conditions. All the assessments were performed on the same day in three sessions. Assessment duration of all the sessions was 5 minutes. For inter-rater reliability, Before the beginning of Procedure both the raters were familiarized with the motricity index. The motricity index was administered by two different raters on the same subjects within 2 days who were blind to each others results and heir results were recorded separately.

The purpose of this study is to examine if practicing joint movements using specially designed devices can help in the recovery of muscle function in the arm/hand after a stroke. Subjects may qualify for participation in this study because they had a stroke and have had difficulty using their affected arm/hand ever since.

The purpose of this multicentric study is to assess the impact of C-BRACE on mobility, endurance, confidence, participation, satisfaction, psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in community ambulators using a Stance Control Orthosis.

Track behavioral and qualitative longitudinal outcomes in children with hemiparesis who previously participated in a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) of intensive therapy combined with repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)