TENS and Spasticity in Stroke Patients

Riphah International University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Device: Low Frequency TENS; Device: High Frequency TENS; Other: Task Related Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05075109

REC01037 Komal Mazhar

Details and patient eligibility

About

study aims to evaluate the efficacy of high and low frequency TENS on spasticity, strength and functional status in stroke patients. It may provide further knowledge concerning the use of TENS for motor impairments in stroke patients and may clarify ambiguities to some extent.

Full description

Despite the positive effects of electrical stimulation proved on motor impairments of affected limb, the evidence is still not conclusive. There still remains a question mark regarding the effectiveness and optimal stimulation parameters of TENS. there has been conflict regarding the TENS parameters (frequency, duration, intensity) among different studies. To date TENS parameters used in different studies to reduce spasticity range from frequency of 1.7-100 Hz, duration from 15-60 minutes and sessions from 1-30. The use of different parameters may account for the contradictory results related to effectiveness of TENS.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Both male and female aged 40-70 years
• Middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke
• 6 months after stroke
• Mini-mental state examination (MMSE)more than 24
• Modified Ashworth scale score between1 and 2

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or with other pre-existing neurological disorders.
• Patients with orthopedic condition affecting upper extremity
• Patients with contraindication to TENS, like skin damaged etc.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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54 participants in 3 patient groups

High Frequency TENS

Experimental group

Description:

high frequency TENS (100 Hz, 200 us) over the muscle belly of triceps and wrist extensors, for 5 days per week over 8 weeks combined with task related training.

Treatment:

Device: High Frequency TENS

Low Frequency TENS

Experimental group

Description:

low frequency TENS (20 Hz, 0.2 us) over the muscle belly of triceps and wrist extensors, for 5 days per week over 8 weeks with task related training.

Treatment:

Device: Low Frequency TENS

Task Related Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

postural control, shoulder mobilization, weight bearing exercises, functional activities that will comprise of simple tasks to more advanced movement patterns

Treatment:

Other: Task Related Training