Deconstructing Post Stroke Hemiparesis

Launched by PROVIDENCE VA MEDICAL CENTER · Aug 11, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The clinical trial titled "Deconstructing Post Stroke Hemiparesis" is focused on understanding the challenges that people face after having a stroke, especially with their arm and hand movements. By breaking down these difficulties into smaller parts, the researchers hope to connect these issues to specific areas of the brain. This study is currently looking for participants who have had a stroke more than six months ago and experience some trouble using their arm, but can still follow simple instructions in English.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be between the ages of 65 and 74 and have a specific level of motor impairment in their upper arm, as measured by a standard assessment. Those with previous significant arm difficulties before their stroke, certain medical conditions, or specific exclusions related to MRI and brain stimulation cannot participate. If you choose to join, you can expect to take part in assessments that help researchers understand your arm and hand function better, which may contribute to improved rehabilitation methods for stroke survivors in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of a unilateral ischemic stroke occurring \>6 months prior as documented in medical chart
• • Upper extremity motor impairment as measured by Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Assessment ≤60
• • Ability to follow simple instructions in English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Greater than moderate difficulty using the arm and hand pre-dating the stroke as assessed by the questions adapted from the QuickDASH outcome measure score on any question \>= 3, which measures physical function and symptoms in people with difficulty using the arm and hand.
• • Visual or auditory disorders resulting in the inability to see or hear, respectively, the stimuli presented as part of research sessions
• • Inability to maintain a seated position for at least one hour
• • Standard MRI exclusion (e.g., significant claustrophobia or inability to tolerate loud noises, cardiac pacemaker (unless MRI-safe), implanted device (deep brain stimulation) or metal in the brain, cervical spinal cord, or upper thoracic spinal cord)
• • Standard (single-pulse) TMS exclusion which include (in addition to those listed for MRI) pregnancy/lactation/planning to become pregnant during the study, seizure disorder, and primary or secondary CNS tumors