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Effect of TENS on Spasticity

20 juni 2026 bijgewerkt door: Korhan Barış Bayram, Izmir Katip Celebi University

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Spasticity: A Single-Subject Experimental Study

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is effective in reducing spasticity in adults with post-stroke spasticity. The primary research question is whether TENS can reduce the severity of spasticity. The effectiveness of TENS will be assessed by comparing spasticity-related outcomes measured before, during, and after the intervention. Participants will first undergo a one-hour baseline monitoring period, during which assessments will be conducted at 10-minute intervals. This will be followed by a 30-minute TENS intervention and a two-hour follow-up period, with assessments performed every 10 minutes. One participant will repeat this protocol once daily for three consecutive days, whereas the remaining three participants will undergo the procedure on a single occasion.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Nog niet aan het werven

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Post-stroke spasticity is a common consequence of upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by increased muscle overactivity and exaggerated stretch reflex responses. It can negatively affect motor function, daily activities, and quality of life in stroke survivors.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive and widely used rehabilitation modality that may modulate spinal and supraspinal neural mechanisms through activation of sensory afferent pathways. Although previous studies have reported potential benefits of TENS for spasticity management, findings remain inconsistent because of methodological heterogeneity, variability in stimulation parameters, and differences in individual treatment responses.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of sensory-level TENS on wrist flexor spasticity and spinal motor neuron excitability in individuals with chronic post-stroke spastic paresis. Specifically, the study will examine whether TENS influences clinical spasticity, the duration of any observed effects, the magnitude of treatment-related changes, and the reproducibility of these effects across participants.

Two complementary single-case experimental designs will be used. First, a withdrawal/reversal design (ABABA with washout periods) will be employed to evaluate the causal effects of TENS on outcome measures. Second, a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design across participants will be used to assess the consistency of intervention effects across individuals.

TENS will be applied over the paretic wrist flexor muscles for 30 minutes using symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulses (100 Hz, 200 μs). Stimulation intensity will be adjusted to a clearly perceived sensory level without visible muscle contraction or discomfort.

The primary outcomes are clinical spasticity, assessed by muscle reaction angle during rapid passive stretch, and spinal motor neuron excitability, assessed by the Hmax/Mmax ratio obtained from flexor carpi radialis H-reflex recordings. Repeated measurements will be performed throughout the experimental phases to evaluate immediate and time-dependent changes associated with TENS application.

This study is expected to provide individual-level evidence regarding the effects and temporal characteristics of sensory-level TENS in chronic post-stroke spasticity.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

4

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

  • Naam: Korhan B Bayram, M.D.
  • Telefoonnummer: +905073066695
  • E-mail: korbay@gmail.com

Studie Contact Back-up

Studie Locaties

  • Turkije (Türkiye)
    • Karabağlar
      • Izmir, Karabağlar, Turkije (Türkiye), 35150
        • Izmir Katip Celebi University

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 70 years
  • Post-stroke wrist flexor spasticity scored as Grade 2 or 3 on the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS), specifically selecting patients whose passive stretch resistance (post-catch response) can be easily overcome to ensure accurate and unconfounded electrophysiological evaluation.
  • At least 6 months post-stroke (chronic phase).
  • Provision of voluntary, written informed consent prior to study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age <18 or >70 year
  • Contraindications to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (e.g., implanted electronic devices, history of epilepsy, or localized skin lesions preventing electrode placement)
  • Concomitant wrist contracture or pain sufficient to impede clinical evaluation
  • Structural abnormalities of the elbow joint obstructing median nerve stimulation
  • Median nerve neuropathy or injury in the affected upper extremity.
  • Non-stable dosage of antispastic medications within the 2 weeks prior to baseline
  • Initiation of medications affecting nerve conduction (e.g., antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anesthetics) within the past month; patients on a stable dose for >1 month remain eligible
  • Botulinum toxin injection in the target spastic muscles within the preceding 3 months
  • History of neurolytic procedures targeting spasticity in the affected limb.
  • History of orthopedic or neurological surgery targeting spasticity in the affected limb
  • Cognitive impairment severe enough to compromise adherence to study protocols
  • Inability to maintain the required testing positions for the upper extremity joints (shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Presence of active malignancy at or near the treatment area.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Behandeling
  • Toewijzing: NVT
  • Interventioneel model: Opdracht voor een enkele groep
  • Masker: Geen (open label)

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Participants with chronic post-stroke wrist flexor spasticity will receive sensory-level transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied over the paretic wrist flexor muscles during the intervention (B) phase. TENS will be delivered for 30 minutes using a symmetrical biphasic rectangular waveform with a frequency of 100 Hz and a pulse duration of 200 μs. Stimulation intensity will be adjusted to a clearly perceived sensory level without visible muscle contraction or discomfort. During the baseline (A) phase, no intervention will be administered.
Apparaat: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) will be applied over the projection area of the paretic wrist flexor muscles (flexor carpi radialis) for 30 minutes. Stimulation parameters will consist of symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulses at a frequency of 100 Hz and a pulse duration of 200 μs. Stimulation intensity will be adjusted to produce a clearly perceived sensory sensation without visible muscle contraction or discomfort.

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Angle of Muscle Reaction
Tijdsspanne: From baseline assessment through completion of study participation (1 to 3 days, depending on the assigned experimental design).
The Angle of Muscle Reaction (AMR) is defined as the joint angle at which a catch response is elicited in the wrist flexor muscles (flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris) during passive stretch performed at the highest achievable velocity. Higher values indicate lower spasticity.
From baseline assessment through completion of study participation (1 to 3 days, depending on the assigned experimental design).
Hmax / Mmax ratio
Tijdsspanne: From baseline assessment through completion of study participation (1 to 3 days, depending on the assigned experimental design).
The Hmax/Mmax ratio is an electrophysiological measure of spinal motor neuron excitability obtained from flexor carpi radialis H-reflex recordings. Higher values indicate greater spinal motor neuron excitability.
From baseline assessment through completion of study participation (1 to 3 days, depending on the assigned experimental design).

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Korhan B Bayram, Izmir Katip Celebi University

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Algemene publicaties

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Geschat)

1 juni 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2027

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

20 juni 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

20 juni 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

25 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

25 juni 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

20 juni 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juni 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • 2026-KAE-0019

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Beschrijving IPD-plan

Since all necessary demographic, clinical, and outcome data will be reported and published in a manuscript as per the study methodology, IPD sharing is currently not deemed required.

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

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