Cortical Priming to Optimize Gait Rehabilitation in Stroke: a Renewal
Trial Parameters
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Brief Summary
Achieving functional ambulation post stroke continues to be a challenge for stroke survivors, clinicians, and researchers. In the effort to enhance outcomes of motor training, cortical priming using brain stimulation has emerged as a promising adjuvant to conventional rehabilitation. This project focuses on the development of a long term gait rehabilitation protocol using brain stimulation to improve walking outcomes in people with stroke. The project will also aim to understand the neural mechanisms that are associated with response to the intervention.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than 18 years * First ever monohemispheric stroke \> 3 months since onset * Residual hemiparetic gait deficits (e.g. abnormal gait pattern) * Able to walk for 5 minutes at self-paced speed. Handheld assistive device is acceptable. * Walking speed lesser than 1.2 m/s * Lower limb Fugl-Meyer Motor score between 15-30 * At least 5 deg of ankle dorsiflexion necessary to perform the ankle-tracking task Exclusion Criteria: * General exclusion criteria * Severe osteoporosis * Contracture-limiting range of motion of lower limb * Score of more than 2 on the Modified Ashworth Scale (indicating increased muscle tone through ankle range of motion) * Uncontrolled anti-spasticity medications during the study period * Score less than 6 on the Fugl-Meyer Sensory Assessment Scale for the Lower Limb * Cardiorespiratory or metabolic diseases (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, chronic emphysema) * Unhealed decubiti, persistent infection * Sig