An interventional study of tRNS (Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation) and FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)-assisted task-specific practice in Stroke, sponsored by University of Utah. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-22.
Sponsored by University of Utah · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Upper extremity (UE) paresis or weakness is one of the most frequent impairments after stroke. Despite intense rehabilitation, motor and functional recovery of patients with severe hand impairments is poor. Hence, there is a need for more effective treatments to enhance motor function in patients with severe hand impairments after stroke. Adaptive functional electrical stimulation (FES) appears to be a promising treatment and has the potential to facilitate active movement in individuals with severe impairments post-stroke. In addition, transcranial random noise stimulation (trns) is a widely studied, non-invasive and safe method to enhance the corticomotor excitability in individuals with chronic stroke. However, the effect of combining trns and adaptive FES in patients with severe hand impairments has not been investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether combining trns with FES will enhance hand function in individuals with chronic stroke than FES alone. The investigators predict that combining trns with FES will significantly enhance hand function than FES alone.
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether combining transcranial random noise stimulation with functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice will enhance hand function in individuals with severe paresis post-stroke than functional electrical stimulation alone.
The study is an experimental randomized study comparing the effects of transcranial random noise stimulation with functional electrical stimulation to functional electrical stimulation alone on recovery of function in the more-affected hand in individuals with chronic stroke.
Participants were randomized to receive transcranial random noise stimulation and functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice or sham-transcranial random noise stimulation and functional electrical stimulation-facilitated task practice.
Participants received 18 treatment sessions over 6 weeks (3 times/week for 6-8 weeks).
7,441 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,012 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 78 is above the median of 50 across 5,482 interventional studies indexed under Stroke.
Browse Stroke studies →University of Utah is the lead sponsor of 991 studies on the registry; 177 are open to participants now.
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Female and male subjects are eligible for inclusion only if all of the following criteria are met:
Exclusion Criteria:
A subject is not eligible for inclusion if any of the following criteria apply:
Participants will receive the intervention 3x/week for 6-8 weeks for a total of 18 intervention sessions. Participants will receive sham-tRNS during the FES-assisted task-specific practice.
Device: FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)-assisted task-specific practice · Device: Sham-tRNS (Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation)
Participants will receive the intervention 3x/week for 6-8 weeks for a total of 18 intervention sessions. Participants will receive tRNS during the FES-assisted task-specific practice.
Device: tRNS (Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation) · Device: FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)-assisted task-specific practice
Individuals in this group will receive tRNS at 2 mA intensity between 101-640 Hz. The current will be gradually ramped up for and down for the first and last 30 seconds of the stimulation.
The FES-assisted task-specific practice will focus on restituting the movement components composing functional tasks. We will use the principles of motor learning with FES-assisted task-specific practice. Based on motor learning principles, our intervention will include 1) movement practice as close to normative as possible, 2) a high number of repetitions, 3) attention to the motor task, and 4) training specificity.
Individuals in this group will receive sham-tRNS via the same electrode configuration as the tRNS. The stimulation will gradually ramp up for 30 seconds and then fade away for the rest of the intervention session.
Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Scale
Changes in Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. This scale measures voluntary motor control of the paretic upper extremity (UE) using a 3-point ordinal scale where 0=cannot perform, 1=performs partially, and 2=performs fully. The total possible score ranges from 0-66 with higher scores indicating a better voluntary motor control of the paretic UE.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks post-intervention
Stroke Impact Scale - Hand Function Score
Changes in Stroke Impact Scale - Hand Function Score between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Participants report paretic upper extremity (UE) use in five commonly performed daily tasks (e.g., carry a bag of groceries) using a 5-point ordinal scale, which ranges from 0-5, where 0=cannot use paretic and 5=not difficult at all to use paretic UE. The total score ranges from 0-25 with higher scores indicating better UE function.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks post-intervention
Transcranial Magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potential
Changes in cortical motor evoked potentials (MEPs) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. MEPs will be obtained by placing a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil over the hand knob of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex. TMS-induced MEP amplitude will be obtained by averaging peak to peak amplitudes of 20 MEPs from the flexor carpii radials and/or extensor digitorum communis muscles. Higher values of MEP indicate greater corticospinal excitability.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks post-intervention
Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Scale
Changes in Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. This scale measures voluntary motor control of the paretic upper extremity (UE) using a 3-point ordinal scale where 0=cannot perform, 1=performs partially, and 2=performs fully. The total possible score ranges from 0-66 with higher scores indicating a better voluntary motor control of the paretic UE.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks post intervention
Stroke Impact Scale - Hand Function Score
Changes in Stroke Impact Scale - Hand Function Score between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Participants report paretic upper extremity (UE) use in five commonly performed daily tasks (e.g., carry a bag of groceries) using a 5-point ordinal scale, which ranges from 0-5, where 0=cannot use paretic and 5=not difficult at all to use paretic UE. The total score ranges from 0-25 with higher scores indicating better UE function.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks post intervention
Transcranial Magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potential
Changes in cortical motor evoked potentials (MEPs) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. MEPs will be obtained by placing a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil over the hand knob of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex. TMS-induced MEP amplitude will be obtained by averaging peak to peak amplitudes of 20 MEPs from the flexor carpii radials and/or extensor digitorum communis muscles. Higher values of MEP indicate greater corticospinal excitability.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks post intervention
Grip Strength of the paretic hand
Changes in Grip Strength between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Average grip strength of the of three trials will be reported in kilograms. Higher values indicate better grip strength.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Grip Strength of the paretic hand
Changes in Grip Strength between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Average grip strength of the of three trials will be reported in kilograms. Higher values indicate better grip strength.
Time frame: 12 -14 weeks Post-intervention
Upper extremity muscle synergy
Changes in upper extremity muscle synergy between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation induced motor evoked potentials of different proximal and distal upper extremity muscles are coupled using the synergy weights and activation profiles obtained with a novel Principal component-based motor evoked potential analyses. Higher values suggest better muscle synergy.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Upper extremity muscle synergy
Changes in upper extremity muscle synergy between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation induced motor evoked potentials of different proximal and distal upper extremity muscles are coupled using the synergy weights and activation profiles obtained with a novel Principal component-based motor evoked potential analyses. Higher values suggest better muscle synergy.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
Upper Extremity range of motion via kinematics
Changes in Upper Extremity kinematics between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. 3D biomechanical data will be collected using a motion capture system. We will evaluate maximum finger excursions. Higher values indicate greater finger excursion.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Upper Extremity range of motion via kinematics
Changes in Upper Extremity kinematics between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. 3D biomechanical data will be collected using a motion capture system. We will evaluate maximum finger excursions. Higher values indicate greater finger excursion.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
Muscle strength and activation
Changes in muscle strength and activation between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Muscle strength and activation testing will be performed using the triple interpolated twitch technique for the paretic wrist and hand muscles. We will test muscle strength and activation using a customized set-up with load cells for the wrist and hand. Normalized peak force/torque will be used to calculate strength and activation. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength and activation.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Muscle strength and activation
Changes in muscle strength and activation between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Muscle strength and activation testing will be performed using the triple interpolated twitch technique for the paretic wrist and hand muscles. We will test muscle strength and activation using a customized set-up with load cells for the wrist and hand. Normalized peak force/torque will be used to calculate strength and activation. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength and activation.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
Action Research Arm Test
Changes in Action Research Arm Test between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Action Research Arm Test evaluates upper extremity (UE) functional performance using a 4-point ordinal scale on 19-items, which are divided into 4 sub-tests (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross arm movement). The total possible score ranges from 0-57 with higher scores indicating higher UE function.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Action Research Arm Test
Changes in Action Research Arm Test between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. Action Research Arm Test evaluates upper extremity (UE) functional performance using a 4-point ordinal scale on 19-items, which are divided into 4 sub-tests (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross arm movement). The total possible score ranges from 0-57 with higher scores indicating higher UE function.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
Social role sub-scale of Assessment of Life Habits
Changes in Social role sub-scale of Assessment of Life Habits between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. The Social-LIFE-H assess the quality of social participation by estimating the perceived difficulty an in-dividual faces in performing a life habit and the type of assistance required to perform it. Using 40 items, the sub-scale assesses restrictions in social responsibilities, interpersonal relationships, community life, education, employment, and leisure. Each item is scored using a 10-point ordinal scale, which ranges from 0-9, where 0 = not able to perform and 9 = able to perform without difficulty with higher scores indicating better social participation. The total possible score will be reported, which is obtained by summing the scores on each item and then dividing by the number of items.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Social role sub-scale of Assessment of Life Habits
Changes in Social role sub-scale of Assessment of Life Habits between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. The Social-LIFE-H assess the quality of social participation by estimating the perceived difficulty an in-dividual faces in performing a life habit and the type of assistance required to perform it. Using 40 items, the sub-scale assesses restrictions in social responsibilities, interpersonal relationships, community life, education, employment, and leisure. Each item is scored using a 10-point ordinal scale, which ranges from 0-9, where 0 = not able to perform and 9 = able to perform without difficulty with higher scores indicating better social participation. The total possible score will be reported, which is obtained by summing the scores on each item and then dividing by the number of items.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
Transcranial magnetic stimulation induced cervicomedullary motor evoked potential
Changes in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced cervicomedullary motor evoked potential (CMEP) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. An average peak to peak amplitudes of 20 CMEPs will be reported from the flexor carpii radials and/or extensor digitorum communis muscles. Higher values of CMEP indicate greater spinal excitability.
Time frame: 6-9 weeks Post-intervention
Transcranial magnetic stimulation induced cervicomedullary motor evoked potential
Changes in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced cervicomedullary motor evoked potential (CMEP) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. An average peak to peak amplitudes of 20 CMEPs will be reported from the flexor carpii radials and/or extensor digitorum communis muscles. Higher values of CMEP indicate greater spinal excitability.
Time frame: 12-14 weeks Post-intervention
H-reflex excitability
Changes in H-reflex excitability (measured by H-max/M-max ratio) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. H- and M- recruitment curves will be mapped for the paretic flexor carpii radials muscle. Higher values indicate greater spinal excitability.
Time frame: 6-8 weeks Post-intervention
H-reflex excitability
Changes in H-reflex excitability (measured by H-max/M-max ratio) between the experimental (tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) and control (sham-tRNS and FES-assisted task-specific practice) conditions. H- and M- recruitment curves will be mapped for the paretic flexor carpii radials muscle. Higher values indicate greater spinal excitability.
Time frame: 12 -14 weeks Post-intervention
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Dec 2030, 48 months later.
Of 2,859 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Stroke, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 45. This study's planned 48 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 2,988 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 45.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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