# Concomitant sensory stimulation during therapy to enhance hand functional recovery post stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2021 · $492,345

## Abstract

Project Summary: Post-stroke hand impairment is prevalent, persistent, and difficult to treat, with negative
impact on functional ability and independence. One way to improve treatment efficacy is to augment therapy
with peripheral sensory stimulation. While promising, most modalities of sensory stimulation interfere with
natural hand tasks. Thus they are administered prior to therapy, requiring additional time commitment and
hindering patient adherence and implementation. Further, effects diminish after stimulation, weakening its
potency during therapy. To address limitations of existing sensory stimulation and fully leverage the therapeutic
benefits of sensory stimulation, a novel sensory stimulation `TheraBracelet' has been developed: A wristwatch
applies imperceptible vibration during task practice to stimulate the sensorimotor cortex neurons for coherent
firing during hand tasks, leading to enhanced neural communication and hand function recovery. The objective
of this project is to determine if combining TheraBracelet with hand task practice is superior to hand task
practice alone in an adequately powered study. The study design is a double-blinded randomized controlled
trial. Chronic stroke survivors will undergo a standardized hand task-practice therapy program (3 days/week for
6 weeks) with the TheraBracelet device worn on the paretic wrist. The device will deliver vibration for the
treatment group and no vibration for the control group. Double blinding is possible because the treatment
vibration is imperceptible. Evaluation will be performed at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of therapy, and 1 month
after. Aim 1: To determine clinical potential of TheraBracelet in improving hand functional recovery.
Hypothesis: Improvement of hand motor function will be greater for the treatment than control. Hand function
will be assessed using the Wolf Motor Function, Box and Block, and Action Research Arm Tests, along with
the quantity/quality of the upper limb use in daily living, abilities for daily activities, and participant feedback.
Aim 2: To determine the effects of TheraBracelet on sensorimotor grip control and neural communication.
Hypothesis: The treatment will enhance sensorimotor grip control and neural communication for hand grip
compared with control. Sensorimotor grip control will be assessed using the well-established biomechanical
measure of digit force directional control and efficient scaling of grip force during grip-and-lift. Neural
communication for hand grip will be quantified as increase in EEG coherence in the cortical sensorimotor
network for grip compared to rest. Secondary analyses will include characterizing the time course of effects
and responder analysis. Impact: This research will determine clinical utility and biomarkers of this novel
stimulation to guide potential translation. This research is translational as this stimulation is implemented in an
aesthetically appealing smartwatch, does not interfere with hand motion, ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10170391
- **Project number:** 5R01HD094731-02
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Na Jin Seo
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $492,345
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10170391

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10170391, Concomitant sensory stimulation during therapy to enhance hand functional recovery post stroke (5R01HD094731-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10170391. Licensed CC0.

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