EMG-Controlled Game to Retrain Upper Extremity Muscle Activation Patterns Following Stroke (GAM)

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Behavioral: practice muscle activation patterns; Behavioral: task practice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT05628324

I01RX004523 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

A4523-R

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to develop and test if upper limb task practice and muscle activity training improve upper limb function in stroke survivors. Participants will be asked to come to the laboratory 23 times (approximately 3 times a week) over 2.5 months to receive upper limb task practice, muscle activity training, and/or upper extremity functional assessments.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to develop and test if upper limb task practice and muscle activity training improve upper limb function in stroke survivors. Participants will be asked to come to the laboratory 23 times (approximately 3 times a week) over 2.5 months to receive upper limb task practice, muscle activity training, and/or upper extremity functional assessments.

Enrollment: 62 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18+ years old
• Stroke more than 6 months ago
• Moderate unilateral upper limb impairment
• Cognitive ability to participate in the study procedure
• Ability to see the full computer screen

Exclusion criteria

• Concurrent upper limb rehabilitation
• Inability to voluntarily contract muscles of at least 2 upper limb muscle groups, prohibiting participation in training
• Change in spasticity medication or botulinum toxin injection in the upper limb within 3 months prior to or during enrollment
• Total sensory loss
• Comorbidity (e.g., orthopaedic or premorbid neurologic condition) that limit upper limb movement and/or participation in the intervention
• Language barrier or cognitive impairment that precludes providing consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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62 participants in 2 patient groups

EMG + task training

Experimental group

Description:

Train with EMG-controlled games and functional task practice

Treatment:

Behavioral: task practice

Behavioral: practice muscle activation patterns

task training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Train with functional task practice

Treatment:

Behavioral: task practice