Health & Lifestyle | Posted on January 17th, 2025 | return to news
Stroke patients in Dorset invited to take part in new trial
The new clinical trial can help stroke patients to strengthen their arms and hands, and local people are invited to take part.
People in Dorset who have suffered a stroke are being invited to take part in a ground-breaking new trial.
Electrically stimulating the vagus nerve while participants move their weak arm has been found to result in better arm recovery compared with rehabilitation therapy alone. But the electrical stimulator must be surgically implanted, with nerve stimulation triggered by a therapist and delivered in hospital.
However, with the new TRICEPS (TRanscutaneous lImb reCovEry Post-Stroke) trial, brain stimulation is triggered via a lightweight, wearable pacemaker-like device which connects to a wired earpiece, rather than an implant inserted under general anaesthetic.
The stimulation is automatically activated as the arm is moved during therapy and the connected earpiece gently tickles the ear, meaning people can access the treatment at home and without the need for invasive surgery.
More commonly used to treat epilepsy, it is hoped this approach will allow revolutionary treatment to be provided to larger numbers of stroke patients.
Patients have already been enrolled via two local NHS trusts – UHD, and Dorset HealthCare – but researchers need more people to come forward.
Consultant stroke therapist, Dr Louise Johnson who is leading the study locally, said: “This is a really exciting and promising trial, and it’s unusual to be able to take part so long after having a stroke. I am confident there are plenty of people out there who are eligible, and would want to play a role in improving stroke rehabilitation, so please do come forward.”
Ian Odd, who had a stroke in 2020, and is participating in the trial at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, said he ‘would recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their quality of life post-stroke. It’s fantastic, and has certainly got me more disciplined with exercise. It’s well worth being involved’.
The £2m trial is led by researchers in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield and is running in 19 centres around the country.
The trial is being run from locations in Bournemouth, Sherborne and Dorchester. If you live outside Dorset, it is still possible to take part if you are willing and able to travel to Bournemouth, Dorchester or Sherborne Hospitals for assessments.
To find out more, people living in the BCP area or east Dorset should contact 0300 019 4504 or neuro.physio@uhd.nhs.uk, while residents elsewhere in the county should contact 01935 601454 or dhc.dorsetstrokeandneuroservice@nhs.net.
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