Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06950593

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation for Stroke Patients

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and impact of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord (TESS) on the recovery of post-stroke individuals who have upper limb hemiparesis. It will compare outcomes measures between individuals who receive upper limb task specific training with TESS and individuals who receive task specific training of the upper limb with Sham, or fake, TESS.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Upper Limb Hemiparesis Following Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Stroke Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

Upper limb (UL) hemiparesis is the most common post-stroke disability. Currently, there is no treatment used in the clinic that has shown to be efficacious for 75% of individuals who have moderate to severe UL hemiparesis. There are no interventions for individuals with moderate to severe hemiparesis that have demonstrated superiority in comparison to standard care. These stroke patients often have increased spasticity and muscle weakness, resulting in chronic upper limb dysfunction. We are proposing an alternative strategy to improve upper limb function after stroke: transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord (TESS). Our objective is to evaluate the feasibility and neural effects of transcutaneous spinal stimulation plus task specific training in a two-arm study with three time points (pre-/post-intervention and follow-up). We will recruit 14 chronic post-stroke participants who will receive 15 sessions of either TESS plus task specific training or Sham TESS plus task specific training. Our long-term research goal is to use TESS as a therapeutic strategy, combined with task specific training, to improve upper limb impairment and function in chronic stroke survivors. Our central hypothesis is that excitation of spinal circuitry by spinal stimulation will result in more effective motor control that will improve volitional upper limb movement (as compared to sham stimulation plus task specific training). This hypothesis is based on published work in cervical spinal cord injury.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years or older
  • able and willing to give written consent and comply with study procedures
  • at least 6 months post-stroke
  • hemiplegia secondary to stroke
  • UE Fugle Meyer Assessment <35
  • not currently receiving regular occupational therapy services
  • participant has received clearance from physician to participate in study
  • participant has at least a rudimentary comprehension of English

Exclusion criteria

  • botox injection in upper extremity within the last 4 months
  • modified ashworth score of 4 in any joint of the affected limb
  • pregnant or nursing
  • using a powered, implanted cardiac device for monitoring or support of heart function (i.e. pacemaker, defibrillator, or LVAD), or anti-spasticity implantable pumps, or cochlear implants
  • unhealed bone fractures
  • severe contractures in the upper extremities
  • active cancer or cancer remission less than 5 years
  • orthopedic dysfunction, injury, or surgery that would impact the individual's ability to use the upper extremities
  • recent procedure or operation of the spinal cord within the past year
  • traumatic brain injury or neurological conditions that would impact the study
  • skull fracture that has developed within the past 6 months
  • non-English speakers

Treatment and study plan

Task Specific Training (TST)

Other

Task specific training activities are types of activities that may be used in standard of care for stroke rehabilitation. Tasks will be completed in sitting or standing. As is usual in studies for upper limb hemiparesis, study participants will be picking up objects with their affected hands. They will work on grasp, grasp-lift of objects, release of objects, reaching and grasping, and reaching without grasping.

Transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TESS)

Other

The Digitimer DS8R Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Neurostimulator will deliver transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation. The stimulus intensity used during the intervention will be determined based on individual maximum tolerance. We expect this current amplitude to be between 10mA and 100mA. Stimulation time will be standardized to a 30min duration during which the participant will perform task specific training tasks.

Sham transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (Sham TESS)

Other

The Sham TESS intervention will utilize the same device and setup as the true TESS intervention. However, after turning on the stimulation and reaching the appropriate intensity, the stimulation will be ramped down and turned off for the remainder of the treatment session. The participant will be told that the stimulation was brought down to a sub-threshold level in order to maintain treatment group blinding.

Primary outcomes

  1. Fugl-Meyer Test of Upper Extremity Function (FMUE)

    Time frame: Session 1 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 18 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 20 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    The FMUE is an impairment scale that addresses both synergy and isolated movements of the upper limb. The subscales include reflex movements, flexor synergy, extensor synergy, movements out of synergy, combining synergies, wrist, hand, and coordination subscales. The total score ranges from 0 to 66 with higher scores indicating greater function.

  2. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    Time frame: Session 1 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 18 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 20 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    The MAS is a test of muscle spasticity and increases in muscle tone. The scores range from 0-4 for each test item, depending on the increase in muscle tone when completing quick movement, or resting muscle tone.

  3. Grip Strength

    Time frame: Session 1 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 18 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 20 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    Grip strength will be an outcome measure measured via the Jamar Dynamometer. The procedure will consist of 3 tests of maximum grip strength force. Participants will be given ~30 seconds to 1 minute of rest time for each hand in between tests. The individual will maintain ~90 degrees of elbow flexion, 0 degrees of shoulder flexion, and a neutral wrist position while completing the testing.

  4. Chedoke Arm & Hand Activity Index (CAHAI-9)

    Time frame: Session 1 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 18 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 20 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    The CAHAI 9 is a test of bimanual function. There are nine activities including opening a jar, pouring water, drawing a line with a ruler, buttoning a shirt, using the telephone, wringing out a washcloth, applying toothpaste to a toothbrush, cutting food, and drying one's back with a bath towel. The scale ranges from 1 to 7 for each test item and are graded by the amount of use of the affected hand.

  5. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)

    Time frame: Session 1 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 18 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 20 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    The COPM is a patient-reported outcome measure in which the participant will be asked to rate their ability to perform tasks of everyday living. Specifically, the assessment asks participants to identify tasks that they find value in completing, rank their priority, and rank their ability to perform them.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Motor evoked potential status (MEPs)

    Time frame: Session 2 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 19 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 21 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    MEP status is a binary TMS stimulation measure for evaluation of the treatment target or, in this study, corticospinal excitability. There will be an attempt to elicit active MEPs in the biceps, ECR, and FDI. The MEP status of each of the 3 muscles will be tested by finding a hot spot using a single pulse TMS. Individual muscles will be labeled as MEP(-) or MEP(+). The criteria for being MEP(+) is any amplitude present in at least 50% (5/10) of the TMS stimuli using stimulation up to 100% maximal stimulator output.

  2. Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC)

    Time frame: Session 2 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 19 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 21 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    Electromyographic (EMG) recordings will be recorded through surface electrodes secured to th skin over the belly of each muscle. In order to obtain MVCs of each affected upper limb muscle, subjects will perform three contractions of elbow flexion, wrist extension, and finger abduction individually. MVCs will be recorded for 3-5s, separated by ~60s of rest.

  3. H-reflex

    Time frame: Session 2 (Week 1): Baseline Evaluation, Session 19 (Week 7): Post-intervention Evaluation, Session 21 (Week 15): Follow-up Evaluation

    The H-reflex is used to assess the reflexive reaction of the flexor carpi radialis muscle after stimulating the sensory nerve (Ia afferent) fibers. Percutaneous electrical stimulation of the median nerve will be delivered (using 1 ms rectangular electrical stimulus, DS7AH, Digitimer Ltd.) through bipolar electrodes (7-mm stainless steel) just proximal to the elbow. Stimulus intensities will be increased in steps of 0.05 mA, starting below H-reflex threshold and increasing up to measure the H-max and M-max at rest (0.25 Hz). The H-max and Mmax will be measured as peak-to-peak amplitude of the non-rectified response in control subjects and both arms of individuals.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mary Ellen Stoykov, PhD, OT

CONTACT

[email protected]

773-704-2422

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Upper Limb Function Following Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation in Individuals With Hemiplegic Stroke

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 30, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 12, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.