Clinical Research Directory

Haptic-Assisted Virtual Reality Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Intracerebral Haemorrhage

After spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), many survivors have persistent weakness of the arm and hand. Virtual reality (VR) training with haptic (force-feedback) devices may support upper-limb recovery, but evidence comes mainly from ischaemic or mixed stroke populations. This exploratory substudy of the CrossReg-4-Health cohort will include 100 adults with upper-limb motor impairment after ICH. All participants will receive conventional physiotherapy and occupational therapy (ten 60-minute sessions over two weeks). Half will additionally receive 15 minutes of supervised haptic-assisted VR training per session using the Bimeo PRO system. Upper-limb motor function, disability, adherence, tolerability and adverse events will be assessed before and after the two-week programme to estimate feasibility and preliminary effect sizes for future trials.

Validation of a Methodology Using Isometric Dynamometer for Ankle STrength Assessment to Quantify LDH-induced Paresis

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common condition that may cause lower limb motor weakness (paresis), particularly affecting ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. Although motor deficits are clinically important and may influence treatment decisions, objective and standardized methods for quantifying the severity of paresis are lacking. Current clinical assessment mainly relies on manual muscle testing, which is subjective and has limited sensitivity, while isokinetic dynamometry, the reference standard for muscle strength assessment, is expensive and impractical for routine clinical use. This prospective validation study aims to evaluate a clinically feasible isometric ankle strength measurement method based on a handheld dynamometer fixed with an external strap to eliminate examiner-dependent resistance. The study will be conducted in two sequential phases. First, validity and reliability of the method will be established in healthy adult volunteers by comparing measurements with those obtained using an isokinetic dynamometer. Second, the method will be applied in patients with LDH-induced lower limb paresis to determine its performance across a broader range of muscle strength values and its clinical applicability. Outcome measures include maximal isometric ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion force, time to peak force, manual muscle testing (Medical Research Council scale), patient-reported weakness using a Numeric Rating Scale, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) scores, and functional ankle strength tests. Validity will be assessed using correlation analyses and Bland-Altman agreement analysis, while intra- and inter-rater reliability will be evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients, coefficient of variation, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change. The study seeks to establish a reliable, valid, and clinically practical method for objective assessment of ankle muscle strength in patients with LDH-induced paresis. Such a method could improve clinical evaluation, enable objective monitoring of recovery, facilitate future clinical research, and support treatment decision-making.

Pupil-Indexed Noninvasive Neuromodulation

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is thought to activate neural pathways that release chemicals which promote plasticity and learning. Previous work has shown that the auricular branch of the vagus nerve innervates landmarks on the external ear. Work from the PI's laboratory has shown that electrical current applied to the external ear modulates physiological indexes of brain states implicated in the therapeutic effects of VNS. The broad objective of this project is to better understand physiological mechanisms modulated by auricular stimulation to support possible therapeutic effects in the form of motor learning.

Chronic Transcutaneous Stimulation to Promote Motor Function and Recovery in Individuals With Paralysis or Paresis

This is an early feasibility trial to determine whether transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation, with or without transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, using an investigational neurostimulation device improves functional arm/hand movements in individuals with paralysis or paresis due to a spinal cord injury or stroke and improves functional arm/hand or leg/foot movements in individuals with paralysis or paresis due to other brain or nerve injuries. In this study, eligible individuals that agree to participate will be asked to attend up to 5 study sessions a week for 1 year (depending on participant availability), with each session lasting up to 4 hours. At the first study session, participants will have their demographic information collected, vital signs assessed, and have measurements performed of their limbs and torso, as appropriate. They will also undergo clinical evaluations and tests to assess their current functional movement and sensation capabilities. During subsequent study sessions, participants will undergo many tasks designed to improve functional movements in paralyzed limbs. Specifically, participants will receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the limb(s) and/or electrical stimulation to the spinal cord to evoke specified movements. The stimulation parameters and locations on the spinal column and/or limb(s) that evoke specific movements will be noted. The movements will be assessed with visual inspection, electromyography, and/or sensors. The clinical evaluations and tests to assess functional movement and sensation capabilities will be repeated throughout the study and at the last study session to assess for functional improvements compared to the first study session. Upon completion of these study sessions, the individual's participation in the study is considered complete.

Investigation of Preoperative Factors Influencing the Outcome of Motor Deficits in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Microdiskectomy

Lumbar disc herniations may result in lower limb weakness. In such cases, there is a strong indication for surgical intervention through microdiscectomy. This clinical study aims to investigate preoperative factors that may influence the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing this procedure.

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

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.