Effect of Combining Central and Peripheral Cutaneous Electrical Stimulation on Lower Limb Motor Function in People With Stroke
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Improving Lower Limb Function in Stroke Patients
- Stroke
At a glance
- Phase
- Phase not stated
- Study type
- Interventional
- Sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Enrolment target
- 92
- Started
- 1 March 2025
- Main results due
- 31 March 2027
- Study sites
- 1
- Registry updated
- 29 September 2026
Can you take part?
- Ages 50 years to 85 years.
- Open to any sex.
- You need the condition being studied — healthy volunteers are not accepted.
These are the headline rules only. Every study has a longer list, and whether you are eligible is decided by the research team at the site — never by this page.
Read the full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. are between 50 and 85 years of age; 2. have had a single stroke more than 6 months and less than 15 years; 3. have at least 5 degrees of active ankle dorsiflexion in the antigravity position; 4. are able to walk 10 m independently, with or without a walking aid; 5. are able to score 6 or higher out of 10 on the abbreviated mental test; 6. have no skin allergies (e.g. redness or itchiness after application of the electrical stimulation pads) to electrical stimulation or electrodes; 7. are able to follow instructions and give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. have any additional medical, cardiovascular or orthopedic conditions that would hinder their treatment or assessment; 2. have a cardiac pacemaker; 3. have aphasia or cognitive difficulties that may interfere with their comprehension of instructions; 4. have had one or more epileptic seizures within the year prior to the date of inclusion in the study; 5. have an intracerebral metal clip; 6. have a major somatosensory deficit 7. have any contraindication to tDCS; 8. are currently involved in drug studies or other clinical trials.
What this study is about
In the sponsor’s own words, from the registry.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in augmenting the efficacy of the lower limb task-oriented training in people with stroke. It is hypothesize that lower limb motor function can be best improved by combining anodal tDCS with TENS, when compared with sham-tDCS with TENS, anodal tDCS with placebo-TENS, or control training at improving ankle muscle strength, motor control of lower limbs, walking performance, functional mobility and community integration in people with stroke.
Study sites(1)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Recruiting
Showing 1 of 1 sites. 1 of the 1 site on this study is recruiting right now — a site can stop enrolling while the study as a whole is still open.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT06838013. Trialion does not run this study, is not paid to refer anyone to it, and cannot enrol you. Eligibility is always decided by the research team at the site.
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