Development of At-Home Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Early evidence suggests the benefits of post-stroke motor rehabilitation may be enhanced by applying electrical stimulation to the ear. This study aims to test the new approach of pairing ear stimulation with motor rehabilitation in the home setting in stroke survivors with upper limb motor function deficits.
• 18-80 years old with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred ≥6 months prior;
• Ability to give consent;
• Unilateral limb (left or right) weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score of 19-53/60 points which indicates adequate arm/hand use for rehabilitation tasks;
• active wrist flexion/extension ≥10° with active abduction/extension of thumb and at least 1 digit ≥10° to further assure ability to participate in rehabilitation tasks;
• Passive range of motion in affected shoulder, elbow and wrist within 20 degrees of normal values.