Investigating the Feasibility of Combining Virtual Reality and Bilateral Transcranial Direct Stimulation to Improve Upper Limb Recovery in Patients With Stroke

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other, Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Following a stroke, the function of the distal upper limb, especially hand and finger movements, is often severely compromised, significantly restricting the ability to carry out daily activities. It is estimated that 55-75% of stroke survivors suffer from motor dysfunction, with upper limb impairments affecting up to 85% of them (Tang et al., 2024). Current rehabilitation approaches, while beneficial, often produce limited gains in hand function, particularly in patients with chronic stroke. Virtual reality (VR) training has emerged as a promising tool in neurorehabilitation, providing repetitive, task-specific, and engaging practice environments that can promote motor learning (Cameirão et al., 2012). tDCS has also shown potential to enhance motor recovery when combined with motor practice (Kang et al., 2016). To date, no studies have directly compared the effectiveness of Bi-tDCS with VR for improving upper limb function after stroke.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• 2- Patients with a unilateral cerebral infarction or haemorrhage who are at least three months post-stroke (Muller et al., 2021).

• 3- Adequate mental status confirmed by an MMSE (Arabic version) should be ≥24 (Kim, 2021). ensuring the ability to comprehend and follow instructions.

• 4- Modified Ashworth scale score \< 3 (Ögün et al., 2019). 5- Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scores between 29 and 58, indicating moderate impairments (Woytowicz et al., 2017).

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Locations
Other Locations
Saudi Arabia
King Fahad Medical City مدينه الملك فهد الطبيه, 6496 Makkah Al Mukarrama Road, الرياض, الرياض 12231
RECRUITING
Riyadh
Contact Information
Primary
Sarah Almhawas, PT
446200649@student.ksu.edu.sa
0555677296
Backup
Dr. Alaa M Albishi albishi, Associate Professor
aalbeshi@ksu.edu.sa
0555090015
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-12-28
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-01-30
Participants
Target number of participants: 100
Treatments
Experimental: bi-tDCS+VR
20 minutes of tDCS during 45 minutes of VR games.
Sham_comparator: tDCS+ VR 20 minutes of sham tDCS combined with 45 minutes of VR
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: King Saud University
Collaborators: King Fahad Medical City, King Saud Medical City

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov