Efficacy of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) in Persons Receiving Botulinum Neurotoxin for Upper Extremity Spasticity - Full Text View

Sponsors and Collaborators:	University of Pittsburgh Allergan
Information provided by:	University of Pittsburgh
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00462449

Purpose

FES is a form of treatment with a device to aid movement in people who have had damage to their brain or spinal cord. Small electrical impulses are used to excite/stimulate the nerves that supply paralyzed muscles. This activates those muscles, enabling them to produce basic but useful movement. Self-adhesive patches (electrodes) are placed on the skin close to the nerve that supplies the muscle and are connected by wires to a stimulator that produces the impulses. In this way, FES is used to correct the muscle weakness that is caused by injury to the brain or spinal cord.

Repetitive task practice is an "activity-based" therapy program that has been shown to enhance the recovery of hand and arm functions after stroke. This therapy consists of a set of training activities that are designed by a qualified therapist specific to your functional abilities that are to be performed with the impaired hand. These activities are designed to stimulate functional improvement with repetitive practice.

Spasticity is a nervous system disorder where certain muscles are continuously contracted. Botox injections are commonly used to help to reduce spasticity in areas of the body with increased muscle tone. This research is designed to look at any additional benefit that may occur when Botox injections are combined with specific occupational therapy exercises and with a device that uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) to help improve muscle function after stroke.

Condition	Intervention
Upper Extremity Spasticity Stroke Acquired Brain Injury	Device: Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) through the Ness H200

MedlinePlus related topics: Botox Traumatic Brain Injury

Drug Information available for: Clostridium botulinum toxin

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title:	Single Blind, Randomized Study to Determine the Safety and the Efficacy of Using Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Repetitive Task Practice vs. Repetitive Task Practice Alone in Persons Receiving Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A Injections for Upper Extremity Spasticity

Further study details as provided by University of Pittsburgh:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Upper extremity use during activities of daily living assessed observationally by the Motor Activities Log (MAL-O) [ Time Frame: throughout the duration of the study ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Dexterous hand function as measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) [ Time Frame: initial assessment and at the 6-week, 9-week, and 12-week visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Client's perception of self-performance in activities of daily living assessed with the (MAL - Self Report) [ Time Frame: throughout the duration of the study ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Global arm function assessed by the Chedoke-McMaster Assessment (CMA) [ Time Frame: initial assessment and at the 6-week, 9-week, and 12-week visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Clinical spasticity assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) [ Time Frame: initial assessment and at the 6-week, 9-week, and 12-week visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment:	48
Study Start Date:	November 2006
Estimated Study Completion Date:	April 2009
Estimated Primary Completion Date:	December 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
1: No Intervention Individuals randomized into this group will only receive specialized therapy associated with this population.
2: Experimental In addition to appropriate therapy, this group will receive the FES device and be given instruction on how to complete specialized exercises utilizing this device.	Device: Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) through the Ness H200 Specialized exercises will be presented to the participants in this group. They will be instructed on how to attach and complete this exercise program utilizing the FES device.

Detailed Description:

This is a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of repetitive task practice (RTP) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) in individuals who receive routine clinical Botox ® injections for upper extremity spasticity. Botox® injections in combination with repetitive task practice (RTP) is used routinely to manage upper limb spasticity after stroke or acquired brain injury. RTP is an activity-based rehabilitation program that has been shown effective in promoting motor recovery (Wolf et al., 2002), but it requires a sufficient level of baseline motor function. Since FES enhances motor function, we hypothesize that an FES-assisted RTP intervention will provide greater improvement in hand function than RTP alone in patients receiving Botox ® injections.

The primary outcome will be upper extremity use during activities of daily living assessed observationally by the motor activities log (MAL-O). Secondary outcomes will be 1) dexterous hand function as measured by the action research arm test (ARAT); 2) client's perception of self-performance in activities of daily living assessed with the (MAL - Self Report); 3) global upper extremity impairment assessed by the Chedoke-McMaster Assessment (CMA); and 4) clinical spasticity assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).

The primary endpoint will be 6 weeks post-injection. Outcomes will also be assessed at a secondary endpoint, 12 weeks post-injection, to determine the persistence of treatment effects.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 70 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Minimum 6 months post injury/insult with unilateral upper limb spasticity of the elbow, wrist and/or finger flexors.
Preinjection Modified Ashworth scores > 2 in at least one of the following areas: elbow, wrist, or finger flexors.
Subjects must meet criteria for CMA Hand Impairment Scale Stage 2 and be able to complete Task 3 (thumb to index finger) of the CMA Hand Impairment Scale Stage 3, or demonstrate 50% gross grasp to be included.
Botulinum toxin A (Botox®) stable patients (have received at least two prior doses of the agent with first dose occurring at least 6 months prior to study enrollment).
Able to answer reliably to yes/no questions.
Able to follow reliably 1-step instructions.
Written informed consent.
Females enrolled in this study who are of childbearing age will be required to use adequate measures of birth control for the entire study period. Those who do not agree will be excluded.

Exclusion Criteria:

Uncontrolled, clinically significant medical condition other than the condition under evaluation.
Severe, fixed joint contracture in the affected arm. Patients with mild contracture that does not significantly impact function will be included based upon the assessment of the PI.
Known allergy or sensitivity to any of the components in the study medication.
Females who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning a pregnancy during the study or who think that they may be pregnant at the start of the study, or females of childbearing potential who are unable or unwilling to use a reliable form of contraception during the study.
Concurrent participation in another investigational drug or device study or participation in the 30 days immediately prior to study enrollment.
Treatment with botulinum toxin of any serotype for any reason in less than 3 months prior to initial date of injection for the study.
Any medical condition that may put the subject at increased risk with exposure to botulinum toxin type A including diagnosed myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or any other disorder that might interfere with neuromuscular function.
Evidence of recent alcohol or drug abuse.
Infection or skin disorder at an anticipated injection and/or electrical stimulation sites.
Any condition or situation that, in the investigator's opinion, may put the subject at significant risk, confound the study results, or interfere significantly with the subject's participation in the study.
Use of aminoglycoside antibiotics, curare like agents, or other agents that might interfere with neuromuscular function.
Individuals with a cardiac pacemaker, a defibrillator, or baclofen pump.
Individuals with an unhealed or healing fracture or dislocation in the arm to be evaluated.

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00462449

Contacts

Contact: Christine L. Harrison, BS	412-586-6927	harrisonta@upmc.edu
Contact: Cierra X. Jenkins	412-648-6666	jenkinscx@upmc.edu

Locations

United States, Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center	Recruiting
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
Contact: Christine L. Harrison, BS 412-586-6927 harrisonta@upmc.edu
Contact: Cierra X. Jenkins 412-648-6666 jenkinscx@upmc.edu
Sub-Investigator: Elizabeth R. Skidmore, PhD, OTR/L
Sub-Investigator: Douglas Weber, PhD
Principal Investigator: Michael C. Munin, M.D.
Sub-Investigator: Lynn M. Huber, OTR/L
Sub-Investigator: Ross D. Zafonte, D.O.
Sub-Investigator: Christine L. Harrison, BS

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Pittsburgh

Allergan

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Michael C. Munin, M.D.

University of Pittsburgh

More Information

Publications:

Bajd T, Kralj A, Turk R, Benko H, Sega J. Use of functional electrical stimulation in the rehabilitation of patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. J Biomed Eng. 1989 Mar;11(2):96-102.

Billian C, Gorman PH. Upper extremity applications of functional neuromuscular stimulation. Assist Technol. 1992;4(1):31-9. Review.

Brashear A, Gordon MF, Elovic E, Kassicieh VD, Marciniak C, Do M, Lee CH, Jenkins S, Turkel C; Botox Post-Stroke Spasticity Study Group. Intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin for the treatment of wrist and finger spasticity after a stroke. N Engl J Med. 2002 Aug 8;347(6):395-400.

Cauraugh J, Light K, Kim S, Thigpen M, Behrman A. Chronic motor dysfunction after stroke: recovering wrist and finger extension by electromyography-triggered neuromuscular stimulation. Stroke. 2000 Jun;31(6):1360-4.

Chae J, Bethoux F, Bohine T, Dobos L, Davis T, Friedl A. Neuromuscular stimulation for upper extremity motor and functional recovery in acute hemiplegia. Stroke. 1998 May;29(5):975-9.

de Kroon JR, Ijzerman MJ, Chae J, Lankhorst GJ, Zilvold G. Relation between stimulation characteristics and clinical outcome in studies using electrical stimulation to improve motor control of the upper extremity in stroke. J Rehabil Med. 2005 Mar;37(2):65-74. Review.

de Kroon JR, IJzerman MJ, Lankhorst GJ, Zilvold G. Electrical stimulation of the upper limb in stroke: stimulation of the extensors of the hand vs. alternate stimulation of flexors and extensors. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Aug;83(8):592-600.

Duncan P, Studenski S, Richards L, Gollub S, Lai SM, Reker D, Perera S, Yates J, Koch V, Rigler S, Johnson D. Randomized clinical trial of therapeutic exercise in subacute stroke. Stroke. 2003 Sep;34(9):2173-80. Epub 2003 Aug 14.

Liberson WT (1962) Functional electrotherapy. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs 8: 373-377

Mirbagheri MM, Ladouceur M, Barbeau H, Kearney RE. The effects of long-term FES-assisted walking on intrinsic and reflex dynamic stiffness in spastic spinal-cord-injured subjects. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2002 Dec;10(4):280-9.

Nakayama H, Jorgensen HS, Pedersen PM, Raaschou HO, Olsen TS. Prevalence and risk factors of incontinence after stroke. The Copenhagen Stroke Study. Stroke. 1997 Jan;28(1):58-62.

Olsen TS. Arm and leg paresis as outcome predictors in stroke rehabilitation. Stroke. 1990 Feb;21(2):247-51.

Pandyan AD, Gregoric M, Barnes MP, Wood D, Van Wijck F, Burridge J, Hermens H, Johnson GR. Spasticity: clinical perceptions, neurological realities and meaningful measurement. Disabil Rehabil. 2005 Jan 7-21;27(1-2):2-6. Review. No abstract available.

Powell J, Pandyan AD, Granat M, Cameron M, Stott DJ. Electrical stimulation of wrist extensors in poststroke hemiplegia. Stroke. 1999 Jul;30(7):1384-9.

Price CI, Pandyan AD. Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(4):CD001698. Review.

Ring H, Rosenthal N. Controlled study of neuroprosthetic functional electrical stimulation in sub-acute post-stroke rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med. 2005 Jan;37(1):32-6.

Rose DK, Winstein CJ, Tan SM, Azen SP, Chui HC. (2001). Comparison of upper extremity intervention strategies at six and nine months post-stroke. Neurol Rep 25: 130.

Skidmore ER, Rogers JC, Chandler LS, Holm MB. Dynamic interactions between impairment and activity after stroke: examining the utility of decision analysis methods. Clin Rehabil. 2006 Jun;20(6):523-35.

Skold C, Lonn L, Harms-Ringdahl K, Hultling C, Levi R, Nash M, Seiger A. Effects of functional electrical stimulation training for six months on body composition and spasticity in motor complete tetraplegic spinal cord-injured individuals. J Rehabil Med. 2002 Jan;34(1):25-32.

Taub E, Uswatte G, King DK, Morris D, Crago JE, Chatterjee A. A placebo-controlled trial of constraint-induced movement therapy for upper extremity after stroke. Stroke. 2006 Apr;37(4):1045-9. Epub 2006 Mar 2.

Thielman GT, Dean CM, Gentile AM. Rehabilitation of reaching after stroke: task-related training versus progressive resistive exercise. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Oct;85(10):1613-8.

Weingarden HP, Zeilig G, Heruti R, Shemesh Y, Ohry A, Dar A, Katz D, Nathan R, Smith A. Hybrid functional electrical stimulation orthosis system for the upper limb: effects on spasticity in chronic stable hemiplegia. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jul-Aug;77(4):276-81.

Winstein CJ, Miller JP, Blanton S, Taub E, Uswatte G, Morris D, Nichols D, Wolf S. Methods for a multisite randomized trial to investigate the effect of constraint-induced movement therapy in improving upper extremity function among adults recovering from a cerebrovascular stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2003 Sep;17(3):137-52.

Winstein CJ, Rose DK, Chui HC et al. (2001) Recovery and rehabilitation of arm use after stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 10: 197.

Wolf SL, Blanton S, Baer H, Breshears J, Butler AJ. Repetitive task practice: a critical review of constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke. Neurologist. 2002 Nov;8(6):325-38.

Wolf SL, Winstein CJ, Miller JP, Taub E, Uswatte G, Morris D, Giuliani C, Light KE, Nichols-Larsen D; EXCITE Investigators. Effect of constraint-induced movement therapy on upper extremity function 3 to 9 months after stroke: the EXCITE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2006 Nov 1;296(17):2095-104.

Yan T, Hui-Chan CW, Li LS. Functional electrical stimulation improves motor recovery of the lower extremity and walking ability of subjects with first acute stroke: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Stroke. 2005 Jan;36(1):80-5. Epub 2004 Nov 29.

Responsible Party:	University of Pittsburgh ( Michael C. Munin, M.D. )
Study ID Numbers:	0611012
Study First Received:	April 17, 2007
Last Updated:	November 13, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00462449
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by University of Pittsburgh:

Botulinum Toxin
Ness H200
Functional Electrical Stimulation
Repetitive Task Practice

Study placed in the following topic categories:

Craniocerebral Trauma
Cerebral Infarction
Stroke
Wounds and Injuries
Disorders of Environmental Origin
Central Nervous System Diseases
Trauma, Nervous System
Brain Diseases

Signs and Symptoms
Muscle Spasticity
Botulinum Toxins
Muscular Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Muscle Hypertonia
Neurologic Manifestations
Brain Injuries

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Neuromuscular Manifestations
Nervous System Diseases

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 30, 2009