Good news for stroke treatment - Electric currents across the brain can improve hand movements
Last updated 12/12/2011 8:56:01 AM
Good news for stroke treatment - Electric currents across the brain can improve hand movements
Tiny electric currents applied across regions of the brain can improve hand movements in recovering stroke patients for a short period, an Oxford University study has demonstrated.
The researchers are hopeful that developing this brain stimulation technique further may provide a useful addition to standard physiotherapy in helping the recovery of stroke patients.
The study involving 13 patients was able to observe a significant 5–10% improvement in patients' response times in making hand movements.The effect for this single treatment lasted for an hour or so. But neuroscience studies in other research areas have shown effects lasting months after daily application of this form of brain stimulation.
"The improvements in movement and reaction times were significant," said lead researcher Dr Charlotte Stagg. "Patients certainly noticed them, but they were short-lived. However, we are very hopeful that daily brain stimulation would lead to longer-lasting improvements."
Much larger clinical studies would be needed to show that brain stimulation had a lasting effect in producing clinical benefits for stroke patients, for example in greater recovery of movement and ability to carry out all the activities of daily life.
The Oxford team, for the next stage of their research, are currently recruiting around 30 stroke patients to a trial that will look at whether daily brain stimulation in addition to physiotherapy exercises can lead to tangible benefits after a period of three months. The approach seems to have an effect in a wide range of stroke patients. Those who had seen least recovery from their stroke seemed to show most improvement in this simple test.