Peripheral Modulation of Muscle Stiffness and Spasticity

March 6, 2026 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
This is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential Phase II trial of human recombinant hyaluronidase injections in individuals with post-stroke upper limb muscle stiffness. The investigators will recruit 56 subjects, who will be randomized to receive either the intervention or normal saline injections (first injection), and then the intervention the participants did not receive first (second injection). All individuals will receive the treatment by the end of the study.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

  1. To test the effect of hyaluronidase injections on upper limb outcomes. The investigators will test the hypothesis that compared to placebo, human recombinant hyaluronidase injections will increase passive range of motion (ROM) in the most affected joint of the upper limb (primary outcome), isometric muscle strength or force generation capacity using Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) on electromyography (EMG), reduce upper limb motor impairment as measured by the Fugl-Meyer (FM) scale, and improve function as measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT).
  2. To evaluate the effect of hyaluronidase on neural and non-neural components of muscle stiffness. The investigators will test the hypothesis that compared to placebo, intramuscular (IM) hyaluronidase will modulate the passive and potentially also the active component of the stretch reflex, reduce stiffness and improve arm motor control.
  3. To determine the effect of hyaluronidase on intramuscular glycosaminoglycans (GAG) content. The investigators will test the hypothesis that compared to placebo, IM hyaluronidase will reduce the T1rho relaxation times in the biceps and triceps muscles of the affected arm.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
56

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21231
        • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke 4-180 months prior
  • Moderately-severe muscle stiffness
  • Lack of full passive and active range of motion in at least 2/4 areas (shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist) in the hemiparetic upper limb;
  • Willingness to have MRI, complete all clinical assessments, and comply with study protocols;
  • Ability to give informed consent and HIPPA certifications; and

Exclusion Criteria:

  • treatment of spasticity with Botulinum toxin or intrathecal baclofen within the past six months, phenol injections within the past 12 months, or ongoing adjustment of anti-spastic medications;
  • other neurologic condition that may affect motor response (e.g., Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), MS);
  • clinically significant cognitive dysfunction with score <19 on Folstein's Mini Mental Status Examination or depression with score >10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9);
  • pregnancy;
  • known hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase;
  • claustrophobia;
  • standard contraindications for MRI
  • Any condition that will preclude the patient from completing the protocol as determined by the PI

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment Arm
Hyaluronidase plus saline
Drug: Hyaluronidase
HYLENEX recombinant, diluted with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
Other Names:
  • Hylenex
Placebo Comparator: Control Arm
Normal Saline
Drug: Placebo
0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
Other Names:
  • Normal saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Most affected upper limb joint passive range of motion (Cohort 1)
Time Frame: 9 weeks
passive range of motion in most affected joint across the upper limb
9 weeks
Most affected upper limb joint passive range of motion (Cohort 2)
Time Frame: 15 weeks
passive range of motion in most affected joint across the upper limb
15 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total upper limb passive and active range of motion
Time Frame: 15 weeks
passive and active range of motion in shoulder, elbow and forearm joints
15 weeks
Change in upper limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment Score
Time Frame: 15 weeks
measures motor impairment in the affected upper limb, Score range is 0-66, and a higher score indicates a better outcome
15 weeks
Change in Wolf-Motor Function Test (WMFT) Score
Time Frame: 15 weeks
Measures upper extremity function following stroke, Includes 6 items, with a 0-5 score range for each item, and a higher score indicates a better outcome
15 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ning Cao, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 11, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 3, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 9, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 11, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00273264

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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