A gentle ear tickle could help Dorset stroke survivors regain movement
Patients here will be among the first to receive pioneering treatment
A “revolutionary” new treatment is now available to stroke survivors of up to ten years across Dorset.
Two-year trials are being rolled out across the county through Dorset HealthCare and University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) to help patients regain the use of their arms after a stroke.
Known as the TRICEPS trial, local stroke patients will be among the first in the country to receive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (TVNS) as part of their rehabilitation therapy, which involves sending mild electrical pulses to the brain.
Stroke consultant therapist, Dr Louise Clark said: “The preliminary trials look really positive, so we're hoping this will be the big trial that then makes this a mainstay of rehabilitation.
“This trial is for people up to ten years after stroke which is amazing because there are still people living with disability after stroke and this gives them an opportunity to come back into services and get help.”.
Around 110,000 people suffer with a stroke in the UK every year and one third of stroke survivors are left with permanent arm weakness which can make daily activities difficult.
Dr Clark told upper limb function being affected is quite common for a high number of patients.
She said: “Lots of lots of people have difficulties with mobility and we see a high number of patients have a difficulty moving their arm, so some people have complete weakness while other may just lose dexterity in their hands for example.”
In TRICEPS, instead of an implant inserted under a general anaesthetic, brain stimulation will instead be triggered via a lightweight, wearable pacemaker-like device which connects to a wired earpiece.
The stimulation will be 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.
Dr Clark told us: “It was shown that gently ‘tickling’ a nerve at the ear using mild electrical pulses improved arm and hand weakness after stroke, when used in conjunction with rehab therapy.”
Dorset Healthcare will run the trial for eligible patients in North Dorset, West Dorset and Purbeck, while UHD will treat people in the east of the county.
Patients will be asked to wear the device for an hour, five times a week, as they carry out their rehabilitation exercises at home, with the support of community physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
While others will also be asked to wear the device while performing their usual daily activities for a period of 12 weeks.