Clinical Research Directory

Combined Effects of Soft Robotic Hand and Electrical Stimulation on Hand Function in Stroke Survivors

Stroke is a clinically delineated syndrome, which is characterised by an acute, focal neurological deficit resulting from vascular injury (infarction or haemorrhage) within the central nervous system. Notably, around 80 percent of stroke survivors experience post-stroke deficits in upper extremity (UE) motor performance, impacting grip strength, dexterity, and functional independence, which greatly hinder the ability of stroke patients to carry out activities of daily living (ADL), and in turn affects their overall quality of life (QOL).One potential solution to these difficulties is the creation of rehabilitation robotic devices that incorporate hand technology and electrical stimulation. Although soft robotic assistive devices and electrical stimulation have each shown positive effects on motor recovery, their combined use has yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study intends to determine if the simultaneous application of these therapies can speed up rehabilitation results in comparison to independent therapies. Stroke Participants will be divided into two groups, Experimental group and Control group. Both the groups will receive intervention for 40 min/day, 03 days/week, for 08 week and measurements will be taken prior to the treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment and 8 weeks post-treatment.

Studying Fatigue and Movement After Stroke

The goal of this observational study is to learn how neuromuscular fatigue develops after stroke and how changes in brain activity, muscle activity, and their interaction contribute to reduced motor performance in stroke survivors compared to healthy individuals. The study will include adults with a first-ever stroke in the subacute phase and age-matched healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How does neuromuscular fatigue develop during repeated muscle contractions after stroke compared to healthy individuals? * How do brain activity, muscle activity, and brain-muscle interaction change during fatigue after stroke? Researchers will compare stroke participants and healthy control participants to determine whether fatigue-related changes are more strongly associated with altered brain activity, altered muscle activity, or disrupted brain-muscle communication after stroke. Participants will: * Perform repeated leg muscle contractions until fatigue while seated in an experimental setup * Wear non-invasive sensors to record brain activity (EEG) and muscle activity (EMG) during the task * Complete the study during a single experimental session in which fatigue-related changes will be measured throughout the task