Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 70-88% of persons with stroke have some degree of motor impairment. A major goal of research in stroke rehabilitation is to harness the ability of the brain to reorganize after neurologic damage has occurred and thus ultimately lead to successful recovery of function. Data from animal and human models have suggested that sensory input plays an important role in motor output, possibly by influencing cortical plasticity. However, in spite of the advances to date, little is known about the extent to which sensory input in the form of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) can be successfully combined to motor training, especially in poorly recovered subacute stroke patients. The proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness of sustained PNS coupled with motor training, to improve hand motor function in subacute stroke patients with severe motor deficit. Our preliminary data in chronic stroke patients with severe motor deficit demonstrate that motor function can be substantially enhanced when PNS is paired with motor training. In addition, a separate study in patients with mild motor deficit receiving motor training alone suggests that the optimal therapeutic time window to deliver motor training is within the first year after stroke. The improvement of behavioral motor function was associated with corticomotor reorganization. Therefore, we now propose to evaluate the effectiveness of sustained PNS paired with motor training, to promote functional motor recovery in subacute stroke patients with severe motor deficit. The central hypothesis is that subacute stroke patients with severe motor deficit receiving PNS and intensive task-oriented therapy will have improved motor function compared to patients receiving sham-PNS and task-oriented therapy and also when compared to patients receiving PNS-only. Further, the degree of this behaviorally-measured effect will correlate with the neurophysiological effect measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation. We plan to accept or reject the central hypothesis by accomplishing two Specific Aims: 1) test the effect of PNS preceding task-oriented therapy on hand motor function, and 2) test the effect of PNS preceding task-oriented therapy on motor map measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation. The long-range goals are: a) to maximize the restoration of hand motor function after stroke, b) to determine the impact of this intervention in activities of daily living.

Public Health Relevance

This research project addresses a scientifically important question that cannot be answered by other means. The use of peripheral nerve stimulation has the potential to enhance recovery in subacute stroke patients with poor functional recovery. The primary objective of this proposal is to demonstrate that peripheral nerve stimulation combined with intensive motor training has the ability to further improve hand motor function when compared to intensive training alone or nerve stimulation alone. The results from this study have the potential to develop new strategies in neurorehabilitation. The risk involved to subjects in this study is very low.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HD056002-02S1
Application #
7936475
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Ansel, Beth
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2011-09-29
Budget Start
2009-09-30
Budget End
2011-09-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$232,934
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Physical Medicine & Rehab
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Carrico, Cheryl; Westgate, Philip M; Salmon Powell, Elizabeth et al. (2018) Nerve Stimulation Enhances Task-Oriented Training for Moderate-to-Severe Hemiparesis 3-12 Months After Stroke: A Randomized Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 97:808-815
Chelette, Kenneth C; Carrico, Cheryl; Nichols, Laurie et al. (2013) Long-term cortical reorganization following stroke in a single subject with severe motor impairment. NeuroRehabilitation 33:385-9