VIBROfocus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study investigating the effect of focal vibro-tactile stimulation on muscle performance as a possible technique for neurorehabilitation of spastic impaired upper limbs
IRAS ID
217559
Contact name
Rui C. V. Loureiro
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
After hospital discharge a large percentage of people with common neurological disorders (67-78%) are diagnosed with spasticity. If left untreated, spasticity contributes to decreased quality of life affecting mobility and dexterity, ability to carry out hygiene tasks, inability to wear corrective instrumentation for long periods, leading to a decline in their participation in social activities and increased low self-esteem.
The origins of spasticity are not well understood and it is therefore very difficult to treat. It has been suggested that spasticity arises as a result of the abnormal responses from the spine. When we want to move, signals are sent from our brain to the part of our body we want to move. The brain receives feedback about the movement primarily through our sense of touch and vision, but also from our other senses. However the spine, that keeps the muscles safe from stretching too far, causes the muscles to get over activated, i.e. spastic. What we want to investigate in this research is whether it is possible, through the use of modern technology, to reduce spasticity through a series of combined vibration and robotic controlled tasks.
We would like to evaluate the effects vibrations have on spastic muscles. What is proposed in this research is to employ the vibration stimulation to precondition the muscle for the execution of robotic-assisted tasks. The tasks will provide us the information of any residual movement of the wrist.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0853
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion