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Neuro-Intermuscular Coordination Enhancement (NICE) for Chronic Stroke

This study is testing a new rehabilitation approach called Neuro-Intermuscular Coordination Enhancement (NICE) for people with chronic stroke who have difficulty moving their arm or hand. NICE uses a human-machine interaction to help retrain how your muscles work together. It will be compared to another rehabilitation method called EMG Amplitude Biofeedback Exercise, which focuses on targeted muscle activation. The goal is to see if NICE can improve your arm and hand movement, leading to a better quality of life. You might be able to join if you are 21-80 years old, had a stroke more than 6 months ago, and have certain levels of arm and hand weakness. The study aims to enroll 48 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an early-stage, randomized controlled rehabilitation trial. Forty-eight participants will be enrolled and assigned to either the NICE intervention or EMG Amplitude Biofeedback Exercise.
What's involved
You would receive interventions three times per week for six weeks, totaling 18 sessions. Your arm and hand function will be measured at the start, six weeks, 10 weeks, and 18 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your arm and hand function will be followed for 18 weeks after the start of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07531264

Neuro-Intermuscular Coordination Enhancement (NICE) Rehabilitation Through Human-Machine Interaction in Chronic Stroke

Not Yet Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 21–80InterventionalTreatment
University of Houston
~48 participants
Updated 2026-06-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Neuromuscular coordination enhancement (NICE) interventionEMG Amplitude Biofeedback Exercise

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score
Measured over Baseline, six- week, 10-week, and 18-week follow-ups.

Conditions

Chronic Stroke-related Upper-extremity Motor Impairment
Motor Module-guided Rehabilitation Targeting Impaired Intermuscular Coordination and Motor Recovery

Explore related trials

Stroke

NCT07531264

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Houston

    Houston, Texasstudy coordinator listed

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jinsook Roh, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Houston

Who to contact

Jinsook Roh, PhD
[email protected]
7137432578
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Hemiparetic chronic stroke survivors more than 6 months after stroke onset
Adults aged 21-80 years, including both female and male participants
Individuals with a single unilateral ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
Individuals with Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score between 10 and 59 out of 66
Individuals who have not received botulinum toxin injections in the upper extremity within the past 3 months
Individuals without severe spasticity, defined as Modified Ashworth Scale score ≤3 at the elbow and shoulder
Healthy adults aged 21-80 years, including both female and male participants
Individuals with no known neurological or orthopedic injuries

Exclusion

Individuals younger than 21 years of age or older than 80 years of age
Individuals with an orthopedic disorder involving the upper limbs
Individuals unable to produce voluntary upper-extremity muscle EMG activity;
Individuals with cognitive impairment sufficient to interfere with informed consent or successful completion of the protocol, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or other IRB-approved screening procedures.
Individuals whose stroke-affected arm has an intermuscular coordination pattern similarity score \>0.80 relative to the non-affected arm
Individuals younger than 21 years of age or older than 80 years of age
Individuals with known neurological disorders
Individuals with orthopedic injuries or conditions affecting upper-extremity movement
Individuals unable to provide informed consent

What this trial measures

  • Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scoreBaseline, six- week, 10-week, and 18-week follow-ups.

    Motor impairment after stroke will be measured by upper extremity FMA (UE-FMA). The maximum UE-FMA motor score is 66 (i.e., 0: complete motor impairment; 66: normal motor performance). Each item is scored on a 3-point scale (0 = cannot perform, 1 = performs partially, 2 = performs fully). The FMA score reflects the level of upper extremity motor impairment.