Advances in Rehabilitation Offers Hope for Stroke Survivors
Nexstim has launched a multicenter double-blinded, randomized, and sham-controlled trial to determine the therapeutic effects of navigated rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) for stroke rehabilitation. This new stroke therapy combines occupational therapy with nTMS (navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation). Initial results from the Contrastim study have opened the door to improving the quality of life for stroke survivors.
The study is looking at the combination of non-invasive navigated transcranial stimulation (nTMS) along with occupational therapy (OT) in post-stroke patients. Called the E-FIT trial (Electric Field Navigated 1Hz rTMS for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery Trial), this study will be conducted at five of the top rehabilitation sites in the United States.
California
Ranchos Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Institute
Nicole Bayus
Tel: 562-401-7049
nicole.b@larei.org
Illinois
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Ariane Garrett
Tel: 312-238-0947
agarrett@ric.org
Massachusetts
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Melanie French
mfrench@neuromodulationlab.org
New York
Burke Rehabilitation Center
Zoe Tsagaris
Tel: 914-597-2153
kzt3001@med.cornell.edu
Ohio
University of Cincinnati
Kari Dunning
Tel: 513-558-7487
netlab@uc.edu
Treatment consists of 20 minutes of pre-functional occupational therapy, 17 minutes of navigated TMS, followed by 60 minutes of upper-limb task oriented OT. Patients received treatment during 3 visits per week for 6 weeks, the standard in the US. Then returning for follow up visits at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.
To qualify, a patient must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have hand and arm weakness on one side because of a stroke
- The stroke must be because of a blockage (ischemic)
- The stroke must have taken place within 3 to 12 months prior to starting the study