This study is examining the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to improve the ability to walk in patients who have had a stroke. The main outcome to be measured is if tDCS with gait training can producer greater improvements in walking ability than gait training alone. This study is being carried out in Ohio, in the United States.
The details
A stroke can affect a patient’s ability to walk (gait). This results in the inability to function independently, high risk of falls and poor quality of life. Current strategies to improve walking ability (gait training) are limited. Therefore, it is important to develop new strategies.
tDCS involves delivering a low current of electricity to the brain. It has shown positive results in arm rehabilitation after stroke but its use in gait rehabilitation is unknown.
In this study, tDCS will be used with gait training to see if this combination is more effective than gait training alone. Walking speed will be measured by a ten-meter speed test.
Who are they looking for?
50 patients are being recruited for this study. Patients must be medically and psychologically fit and at least 6 months after a stroke that only affected one side. Participants should have sufficient endurance to participate in the study and should have a FMLE score (a scale that measures the sensitive and motor impairment in the lower limbs in patients with a stroke) greater than 15.
Patients will not be included in the trial if they cannot participate in treadmill training. Patients will be excluded if they have contraindications to undergo repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or MRI. The ability to understand English is essential.
How will it work
There will be two groups in this study. One will receive 10 sessions of real tDCS and gait therapy. The other group will receive 10 sessions of sham (fake) tDCS and gait therapy. Treatment will be carried out using a treadmill-based virtual reality environment. The change in walking speed of the patients will be measured by doing a ten-meter walking test. The length of time patients can stand on one leg will also be measured. MRI scans will be carried out on the patients to look at changes in the brain in response to tDCS.
