High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Facilitating Hand Function Recovery After Stroke

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Device: Sham HD-tDCS group; Device: HD-tDCS group; Device: Conventional tDCS group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03875677

2017.155

Details and patient eligibility

About

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) had recently been shown having feasibility in modulating cortical excitability transiently during motor training in a noninvasive way. The findings support that tDCS and motor practice can positively promote post-stroke motor learning to improve upper-limb motor recovery after stroke. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with three groups: HD-tDCS, conventional tDCS and sham HD-tDCS. A 10-session training will be provided to evaluate the effectiveness of transient modulation of cortical excitability through tDCS with clinical assessment scores.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Hemiparesis subsequent to first-ever unilateral stroke for more than 6 months;
2. MCP and PIP finger joints can be extended to 180° passively;
3. Sufficient cognition to follow the experimental instructions

Exclusion criteria

1. Severe hand spasticity or hand deformity;
2. History of alcohol or drug abuse or epilepsy;
3. Bilateral brain infarcts;
4. Severe cognitive deficits;
5. Comprehensive aphasia;
6. Contraindications to tDCS

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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25 participants in 3 patient groups

HD-tDCS group

Experimental group

Description:

Constant current (1mA) will be applied for 20min and the anode will be placed over the defined target area

Treatment:

Device: HD-tDCS group

Conventional tDCS group

Experimental group

Description:

Constant current (1mA) will be applied for 20min and the anode will be placed over the standard C3/C4 position

Treatment:

Device: Conventional tDCS group

Sham HD-tDCS group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The stimulator will be shut down after 30s of stimulation. The patients will feel the initial itching sensation at the beginning in order to evaluate the placebo effect.

Treatment:

Device: Sham HD-tDCS group