STIM-STROKE

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Using surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation for lower limb weakness early after stroke: A randomised controlled feasibility study

• IRAS ID

  332116

• Contact name

  Kathryn Collins

• Contact email

  kcollins@bournemouth.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Hospitals Dorset Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 4 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  Background
  A stroke can cause weakness on one side of the body making it hard or impossible for people to walk, this can lead to further muscle wasting (getting smaller) limiting a person’s ability to walk and stand.

  Physiotherapists use electrical stimulation, a safe and painless treatment. It involves applying electrical currents (using sticky pads on the skin) to the help muscles contract.
  We would like to see if electrical stimulation can stop leg muscles wasting after stroke. This could help people get back to walking and doing everyday activities sooner.

  Aims
  The first step is that we are going to run a small study to see if:
  our study is possible
  people with a stroke want the treatment and the treatment is of benefit to them
  the method of treatment and measurement are acceptable to people with a stroke

  What we plan to do
  Include 60 people within two-weeks of having a stroke. Everyone in the study will receive their usual care but half (decided at random) will also receive electrical stimulation of their leg muscles three times per week over three months.
  For participants getting the electrical stimulation, a trained therapist will show them and their family how to use it. When discharged from hospital, participants will take the electrical stimulation equipment with them to continue to use it on their own or with support from family/caregiver.

  All participants will have assessments done exploring leg strength, walking ability, complete questions about daily activities, pain, quality of life and their use of health and care services. We will ask participants, caregivers and therapists what they thought about the study and electrical stimulation through interviews.

  Information from this study will help to decide if a larger study is possible and help to plan it.
  

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/NW/0208

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Jul 2025

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion