Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation Plus Video Games for Hand Therapy After Stroke

A single-blinded randomized controlled trial will be carried out to assess the effects of 12 weeks of Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation (CCFES) +Hand Therapy Video Games (HTVG) compared to CCFES. Dexterity and activity limitation will be assessed at 0 (baseline), 12 (end of treatment), and 36 (6 months follow-up) wks. The planned treatment dose will be the same for both groups: 10 sessions per week of self-administered treatment at home plus 20 sessions of group-specific occupational therapy in the lab over 12 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

-> 6 months since a first clinical cortical or subcortical, hemorrhagic or nonhemorrhagic stroke

• age 21-80 years old
• unilateral upper limb hemiparesis with finger extensor strength of grade <=4/5 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale AND a score of >=1 and <=11/14 on the hand section of the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment
• adequate active movement of the shoulder and elbow to position the hand in the workspace for table-top task practice (necessary for the lab task practice sessions)
• able to follow 3-stage commands
• able to recall 2 of 3 words after 30 minutes
• surface stimulation of the paretic finger and thumb extensors produces functional hand opening without pain (this will exclude those who have degree of flexor hypertonia that prevents stimulated hand opening)
• Functional passive range of motion (minimal resistance) at elbow, wrist, fingers, and thumb, i.e., there exists enough passive range of motion to reach and acquire table-top objects
• intact vision and hearing
• medically stable
• full voluntary opening/closing of the contralateral (less affected) hand
• demonstrate ability to follow instructions for operating the stimulator or have a caregiver who will assist them

Exclusion criteria

• co-existing neurologic diagnosis of peripheral nerve injury, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis
• uncontrolled seizure disorder
• severely impaired cognition and communication
• uncompensated hemineglect
• arm or forearm skin breakdown or edema (to avoid edema-related shunting of current)
• insensate forearm (to avoid risk of electrical burns)
• history of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias with hemodynamic instability
• implanted electronic systems (e.g. pacemaker)
• botulinum toxin injections to any upper extremity muscle within 3 months of enrolling
• pregnant women due to unknown risks of surface stimulation during pregnancy
• participating in occupational therapy or other rehabilitation therapies to the upper extremity
• severe shoulder or hand pain