EMG-Directed Virtual-Reality Training for Motor Stroke Rehabilitation (NCT07705256) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
EMG-Directed Virtual-Reality Training for Motor Stroke Rehabilitation
United Kingdom20 participantsStarted 2026-07-27
Plain-language summary
This study is testing whether rehabilitation using muscle activity signals can help improve arm and hand movement in people after stroke or spinal cord injury.
In the main study, participants will use a virtual-reality feedback system that is controlled by surface electromyography (EMG). Surface EMG uses sensors placed on the skin to detect muscle activity. The feedback will help participants practise upper limb movements during rehabilitation.
A related sub-study will run alongside the main study. In this sub-study, functional electrical stimulation will also be used to help activate muscles during training.
The study will assess whether these rehabilitation approaches improve upper limb function. It will also explore whether changes in biological or movement-related markers are linked with recovery.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18 or over
* Cognitive status that would permit for use /supported use of intervention device and engagement in protocol related trainings/assessment. To be indicated by treating clinician at point of screening, formal capacity assessment to be conducted as appropriate. Refer to easy read patient information sheet (PIS) and training materials to support all patients presenting with specific cognitive and/or communication needs.
* (We do not wish to exclude patients with cognitive impairment as this would limit the heterogeneity of our sample and generalizability of our findings, given the prevalence of cognitive impairment in stroke patients.)
* Stroke diagnosis (can be first or subsequent stroke, unilateral haemorrhagic or ischemic) 2 weeks max post stroke at time of recruitment.
* Can communicate in English, that is, sufficient for completion of intervention and outcome measures. A speech and language therapist (SLT) will be consulted if necessary to ensure all reasonable accommodations are made to support participation.
* UL motor deficit post stroke (bilateral/unilateral) (according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) item 5), distal UL power \<1 /5 on the Oxford Rating Scale (Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing scale).
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients already enrolled an interventional neuro rehabilitation trial.
* Patients enrolled in clinical trials that contraindicate co-enrolment.
* Patients presenting with uns…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity
Timeframe: Baseline, Interim (Day 11), End (Day 16), 1-Week after the end if the intervetnion, 1-Month Follow-up, 6-Month Follow-up