Clinical Research Directory

RESPARK - Brain Q for Chronic Stroke

This trial tests a promising new intervention to promote post-stroke neural reorganization and functional recovery. The Q Therapeutic (BQ 3.0) is a wearable medical system that produces and delivers non-invasive, extremely-low-intensity and low-frequency, frequency-tuned electromagnetic fields in order to stimulate neuronal networks with the aim of reducing disability and promoting neurorecovery. This trial is a prospective, single-arm, open-label, single center clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the Q Therapeutic (BQ 3.0) System in the rehabilitation of people with chronic stroke.

Effects of I-STROKEFIT+ on Physical Fitness Among Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors: A Pilot RCT

This pilot randomized controlled study will evaluate whether a 12-week integrated home-based physical fitness and self-management programme (i-StrokeFit+) can improve physical fitness and physical activity among community-dwelling stroke survivors. The programme combines aerobic exercise, strengthening exercises, stretching, and self-management strategies. The study hypothesizes that participants receiving i-StrokeFit+ will demonstrate greater improvements in physical fitness and physical activity compared with participants receiving stroke education and simple stretching exercises.

rTMS Plus CCFES-mediated Functional Task Practice for Severe Stroke

This study is a necessary and important step in the development of a new therapy for upper limb functional recovery in patients with severe motor impairment. It is the first clinical trial of non-invasive brain stimulation (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or rTMS) delivered to excite the undamaged hemisphere (specifically the contralesional higher motor cortices or cHMC) in stroke. Therefore, this study will determine whether the positive results obtained in our short-term pilot study can be made to last longer and produce functional benefits in severe patients with the application of brain stimulation in combination with long-term rehabilitation therapy. Rehabilitation therapy administered is called contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES). Determining whether combining rTMS facilitating the cHMC with CCFES produces synergistic gains in functional abilities in severe patients is necessary for acceptance by the clinical community and to move this technology toward commercialization and widespread dissemination. The proposed study will determine whether the combination of rTMS facilitating the cHMC with CCFES produces greater improvements in upper extremity function in severe participants who are ≥6 months from stroke onset than the combination of rTMS facilitating the damaged hemisphere (specifically the ipsilesional primary motor cortex, iM1) and CCFES or the combination of sham rTMS and CCFES. The secondary purposes are to define which patients benefit most from the treatments, which may inform future device and treatment development and clinical translation, and to explore what distinct effects the three treatments have on the brain. To accomplish these purposes, we are conducting a clinical trial that enrolls severe stroke patients.

Investigating Central Contributions to Fatigue Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

The goal of this interventional study is to understand the contribution of the central components to the manifestation of neuromuscular fatigue in stroke survivors. The study will include adults with a first-ever stroke in the subacute phase. The main question it aims to answer: • How does the brain activity contribute to the manifestation of neuromuscular fatigue in stroke survivors? Researchers will compare stroke participants receiving active vs sham tACS in a single session before the fatiguing contractions to determine whether central changes can influence fatigue onset/progression. Participants will: * Perform repeated leg muscle contractions until fatigue while seated in an experimental setup * Receive either active or sham tACS for 20 minutes before the fatiguing contractions. * 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

Q Therapeutic System for Chronic Stroke Recovery

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Q Therapeutic (BQ 3.0) System for individuals with chronic stroke in improving upper extremity function as determined by change in functional outcome measures after 3-month treatment, including in-clinic and at-home sessions.

Effectiveness of Enhanced External Counterpulsation for Post-acute Stroke Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if there benefits combine enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) with the standard post-acute care (PAC) rehabilitation treatment to treat stroke patients.. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the feasibility of combining EECP and PAC? Does EECP combined PAC rehabilitation improve functional outcomes of post-stroke patients? Researchers will compare standard PAC rehabilitation and EECP combined PAC rehabilitation to see if EECP has benefits to treat stroke.

Determinants of the Effectiveness of Robot-assisted Hand Movement Training

The investigators would like to investigate the effectiveness of somatosensory training for robot-assisted hand motor rehabilitation after stroke.