Effects of Wearable Vibratory Devices on Arm Function in Subacute Stroke Patients
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: Wearable Focal Muscle Vibrator.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Hemiplegia, Stroke. Basic parameters: 30 years — 60 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
- Pakistan
- 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
Effects of Wearable Vibratory Devices for Upper Limb Function Among Subacute Hemiplegic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
Hemiplegia, or paralysis of one side of the body, often results from stroke and severely limits arm function. Standard physiotherapy helps, but recovery is often slow. This study tests if adding a wearable vibratory device to standard therapy improves arm movement better than standard therapy alone. Thirty patients with subacute stroke (3-6 months) will be split into two groups. One group will receive usual physiotherapy, while the other will receive usual physiotherapy plus the vibratory device for 8 weeks. Doctors will measure changes in spasticity (muscle stiffness), motor function, and daily independence before and after treatment.
Detailed description
This single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial aims to investigate the neurophysiological effects of focal muscle vibration (FMV) delivered via a wearable device. The study will enroll 28 participants (14 per arm, accounting for 20% attrition) diagnosed with unilateral hemiplegia in the subacute stage (3 to 6 months post-stroke). Inclusion requires a Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score between 20 and 50 and a Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score indicating mild to moderate spasticity. Exclusion criteria include fixed contractures, severe sensory loss, or other neurological diseases.
Intervention Protocol: Both groups will receive a 45-minute conventional physiotherapy session focusing on range of motion, strengthening, and functional task training, three times per week for 8 weeks. The experimental group (Group A) will additionally wear a portable vibratory device (frequency: 100-120 Hz) on the belly of the affected biceps and forearm extensors for 30 minutes during the therapy session. The device will be applied by a trained physiotherapist. The control group (Group B) receives the same conventional therapy without the vibratory device. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) will be used as a baseline warm-up for both groups.
Outcomes: The primary outcomes are changes in spasticity (MAS) and motor function (FMA-UE). The secondary outcome is functional independence measured by the Barthel Index. Assessments occur at baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8). Data will be analyzed using an intention-to-treat analysis in SPSS v20.
Interventions
- Device Wearable Focal Muscle Vibrator
A portable, battery-operated device worn on the forearm. It delivers high-frequency focal vibration (100-120 Hz) to the muscle belly (biceps/forearm extensors) to reduce spasticity and facilitate motor recruitment.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Upper Limb Spasticity [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)]
- Change in Upper Limb Motor Function [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Change in Functional Independence [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Unilateral hemiplegia secondary to stroke
- Age between 30 and 60 years
- Subacute stage (3 to 6 months post-stroke)
- Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score between 20 and 50
- Able to follow simple verbal commands
Exclusion criteria
- Previous peripheral nerve injury or surgery affecting the upper limb
- Fixed contractures or bony fractures in the affected limb
- Complete sensory loss of the upper limb
- Co-existing neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson's, MS, Dementia)
- Unstable cardiovascular conditions
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- The University of Faisalabad — Faisalābad
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07641790 · TUF/EIRB/ 214 /26