Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface for Chronic Post-Stroke Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction

June 30, 2026 updated by: Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

A Prospective, Single-Center, Non-Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With Non-Invasive Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Rehabilitation Training for Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Stroke

This clinical study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of spinal cord stimulation combined with non-invasive motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training in patients with upper limb motor dysfunction after chronic stroke. The study includes an experimental group receiving spinal cord stimulation combined with motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training and a control group receiving motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training alone. The primary outcome is upper limb motor function assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity. Secondary outcomes include muscle tone, upper limb functional activity, activities of daily living, adverse events, serious adverse events, and exploratory neurophysiological and neuroimaging indicators.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Upper limb motor dysfunction is a common and disabling sequela of stroke. Many patients enter a chronic phase more than 6 months after stroke onset, during which spontaneous recovery and conventional rehabilitation-related improvement often reach a plateau. Motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation can decode motor intention from electroencephalographic signals and provide closed-loop feedback through external devices, thereby promoting cortical reorganization. However, in patients with impaired corticospinal pathways and insufficient residual motor execution capacity, the efficacy of motor imagery brain-computer interface training alone may be limited.

Spinal cord stimulation may facilitate spinal motor circuits, reduce abnormal muscle tone, and improve the excitability of residual descending motor pathways. Combining spinal cord stimulation with motor imagery brain-computer interface training may provide a synergistic central-peripheral neuromodulation strategy. The brain-computer interface decodes motor intention from the central nervous system, while spinal cord stimulation facilitates peripheral motor pathway execution, potentially enhancing motor recovery and neuroplasticity.

Participants will be assigned, according to patient preference and investigator assessment, to either the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group will undergo spinal cord stimulation implantation followed by individualized stimulation programming and standardized motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training. The control group will receive the same frequency and duration of motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training without spinal cord stimulation implantation. Clinical outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention, 2 months after intervention, and 3 months after intervention. Safety events will be recorded throughout the study. Exploratory assessments will include electroencephalography and neuroimaging to investigate potential mechanisms of neuroplasticity.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

66

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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 Locations

  • China
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310014
        • Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 to 75 years.
  • First-ever unilateral supratentorial stroke, either ischemic or hemorrhagic, confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, resulting in hemiparesis, with disease duration longer than 6 months.
  • At least one active movement in the wrist or fingers of the affected upper limb, with muscle strength of grade 1 or higher.
  • Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity score between 10 and 40, indicating moderate upper limb motor impairment.
  • Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score less than 10% within the previous month, indicating a functional plateau.
  • Clear consciousness and basically normal cognitive function, with Mini-Mental State Examination score of 24 or higher.
  • Stable clinical condition and ability to understand and cooperate with simple instructions and rehabilitation training.
  • Written informed consent voluntarily signed by the participant or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Other neurological diseases that may cause motor dysfunction, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury.
  • Severe visual or auditory impairment that prevents cooperation with visual or auditory feedback instructions of the brain-computer interface system.
  • Contraindications to spinal cord stimulation surgery, such as severe coagulation dysfunction, infection at the puncture site, severe spinal deformity, or spinal canal stenosis.
  • History of epilepsy, intracranial metal implants, cardiac pacemaker, or other contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Previous neuromodulation surgery for hemiparesis, such as spinal cord stimulation or deep brain stimulation.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Any other condition judged by the investigator to make the participant unsuitable for this study.

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Training
Participants in this group will undergo spinal cord stimulation implantation followed by individualized stimulation programming. After stabilization of stimulation parameters, participants will receive standardized motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training for 4 weeks, 5 sessions per week.
Device: Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation will be delivered through epidural electrodes implanted at cervical spinal cord levels, typically C3-C7 for upper limb dysfunction. Stimulation parameters will be individually optimized within clinically safe and device-permitted ranges, including frequency, pulse width, amplitude, electrode configuration, and stimulation mode.
Device: Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Rehabilitation Training
Motor imagery brain-computer interface training will use a 64-channel medical-grade electroencephalography cap to acquire scalp EEG signals. Participants will perform motor imagery tasks involving the affected upper limb, such as grasping, elbow extension, or wrist lifting. Sensorimotor rhythm features, especially mu rhythm and beta rhythm event-related desynchronization, will be extracted in real time. When significant event-related desynchronization is detected, the system will trigger external feedback, such as a soft robotic glove or functional electrical stimulation, to assist the affected limb in completing the target movement.
Active Comparator: Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Rehabilitation Training
Participants in this group will receive the same frequency and duration of standardized motor imagery brain-computer interface rehabilitation training as the experimental group, for 4 weeks, 5 sessions per week. Training equipment, motor imagery tasks, and feedback methods will be consistent with those used in the experimental group.
Device: Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Rehabilitation Training
Motor imagery brain-computer interface training will use a 64-channel medical-grade electroencephalography cap to acquire scalp EEG signals. Participants will perform motor imagery tasks involving the affected upper limb, such as grasping, elbow extension, or wrist lifting. Sensorimotor rhythm features, especially mu rhythm and beta rhythm event-related desynchronization, will be extracted in real time. When significant event-related desynchronization is detected, the system will trigger external feedback, such as a soft robotic glove or functional electrical stimulation, to assist the affected limb in completing the target movement.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity will be used to evaluate motor function recovery of the affected upper limb.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Modified Ashworth Scale Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
The Modified Ashworth Scale will be used to assess muscle tone and spasticity of the affected upper limb.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Change in Action Research Arm Test Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
The Action Research Arm Test will be used to assess functional activity of the affected upper limb, including grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Change in Modified Barthel Index Score
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
The Modified Barthel Index will be used to assess activities of daily living.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Incidence of Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events
Time Frame: From enrollment to Week 12
All adverse events and serious adverse events will be recorded and assessed throughout the study. Spinal cord stimulation-related adverse events may include intraoperative or postoperative bleeding, infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, electrode migration or fracture, implant rejection, postoperative pain, and neurological injury. Motor imagery brain-computer interface-related adverse events may include dizziness, visual fatigue, skin allergy related to electrode gel, training-related fatigue, and other discomfort.
From enrollment to Week 12

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Electroencephalographic Indicators
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12
Resting-state and motor imagery task-state 64-channel electroencephalography will be collected to analyze event-related desynchronization/synchronization, phase-lag-index-based functional connectivity, and graph-theoretical topological properties.
Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12
Change in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging Indicators
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging will be performed to assess changes in functional connectivity of the default mode network and sensorimotor network, as well as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity of major white matter tracts, including the corticospinal tract.
Baseline and Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

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 (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KY2026089

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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