fNIRS for Monitoring Cortical Activity in Stroke Recovery
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Robot-assisted therapy (EE or EXO system) and functional training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stroke. Basic parameters: from 20 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Taiwan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an Ideal Tool to Monitor Cortical Brain Activity and Understand the Mechanism Underlying Recovery Following Stroke
Overview
This clinical trial aims to investigate the mechanisms of brain reorganization underlying motor recovery following end-effector (EE) and exoskeleton (Exo) robot-assisted hand training in individuals with stroke. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the study will (1) investigate brain activation patterns during EE and Exo robot-assisted hand movements in healthy adults and individuals with stroke and (2) examine longitudinal changes in brain activation and motor recovery over a 6-week intervention. For Part 1, a cross-sectional observational study will be conducted to examine brain activation using fNIRS while participants perform EE and Exo robot-assisted movements. Healthy adults and individuals with stroke will each perform one session of each type of robot-assisted movement. For Part 2, an evaluator-blinded randomized controlled design will be used. Participants will be stratified based on the level of motor impairment and the side of the brain lesion and then randomly assigned to either the EE or Exo robot-assisted training group. Both groups will receive training 3 times per week, with each session lasting 60 minutes, for a total of 6 weeks. Each session will include 40 minutes of robot-assisted therapy and 20 minutes of functional training. Outcome assessments will be conducted at four time points: prior to the intervention (baseline), mid-intervention (during weeks 3-4 of the intervention), immediately after the intervention, and at the 3-month post-trial follow-up. These assessments will be used to evaluate motor recovery and longitudinal changes in brain function.
Interventions
- Device Robot-assisted therapy (EE or EXO system) and functional training
Each group will receive intervention 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session, for a total duration of 6 weeks. The intervention will consist of 40 minutes of robot-assisted therapy and 20 minutes of functional training. For the robot-assisted therapy, participants will receive training using either the EE or EXO system according to group allocation. The functional training component will be conducted without robotic assistance and will focus on task-oriented activities to facilitate the transfe
Primary outcome measures
- Task-related changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) concentration measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) [Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, mid-intervention (during weeks 3-4 of the intervention), immediately after the intervention, and at the 3-month post-trial follow-up.]
Eligibility criteria
Stroke participants
Inclusion criteria
- unilateral stroke onset ≥ 3 months
- Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score between 18 to 56 - modified Ashworth scale ≤ 3 in proximal joints and modified Ashworth scale ≤ 2 in distal joints
- able to follow 2-step instructions
- without excessive spasticity in any of the UE joints.
Exclusion criteria
- orthopedic conditions affecting the arm/hand or other neurological conditions
- severe pain that prevents movement in the affected arm and hand
- implanted cardiac pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators
- osteoporosis, fracture, or severe ataxia
- unstable medical status
- participating in other rehabilitation or drug studies simultaneously
- receiving Botulinum toxin injections within 3 months
Healthy participants
- have no neurological conditions
- have no musculoskeletal disorders affecting the UE
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Taiwan · 1 center
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital — Taoyuan
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07623512 · 202400386B0