Effects of Electromyography Bridge on Upper Limb Motor Functions in Stroke Participants: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial.
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SUBMITTER: Zhao Q
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9312916 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:IntroductionLongitudinal observations of upper limb motor recovery after stroke have suggested that certain subgroups may exhibit distinct recovery patterns. Here we sought to examine whether the predictive ability for post-stroke upper limb motor outcomes could be enhanced by applying conventional stratification strategies.MethodFor 60 individuals who suffered the first stroke, upper limb motor impairment was assessed with the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (UE-FMA) at 2 weeks as a baseline and then 3 months post-stroke. Brain structural damage at baseline was assessed by MRI data-derived markers ranging from traditional lesion size to the lesion load and to the disconnectome. Linear regression models for predicting upper limb motor outcomes (UE-FMA score at 3 months post-stroke) based on baseline upper limb motor impairment (UE-FMA score at 2 weeks post-stroke), brain structural damage, and their combinations were generated, and those with the best predictive performance were determined for individual subgroups stratified according to initial impairment (severe and non-severe), lesion location (cortical and non-cortical), and neurophysiological status (motor evoked potential-positive and motor evoked potential-negative).ResultsThe best predictions were made by baseline upper limb motor impairment alone for subgroups with less functional impairment (non-severe) or less structural involvement (non-cortical), but by the combination of baseline upper limb motor impairment and brain structural damage for the other subgroups. The predictive models tailored for subgroups determined according to initial impairment and neurophysiological status yielded a smaller overall error than that for the whole group in upper limb motor outcome predictions.DiscussionThe predictive ability for upper limb motor outcomes could be enhanced beyond the one-size-fits-all model for all individuals with stroke by applying specific stratification strategies, with stratification according to initial impairment being the most promising. We expect that predictive models tailored for individual subgroups could lead closer to the personalized prognosis of upper limb motor outcomes after stroke.
| S-EPMC10794733 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundImpaired motor function and upper extremity spasticity are common concerns in patients after stroke. It is essential to plan therapeutic techniques to recover from the stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of myofascial release with the tennis ball on spasticity and motor functions of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke.MethodsTwenty-two chronic stroke patients (male-16, female-6) were selected to conduct this study. Two groups were formed: the control group (n=11) which included conventional physiotherapy only and the experimental group (n=11) which included conventional physiotherapy along with tennis ball myofascial release - in both groups interventions were performed for 6 sessions (35 minutes/session) per week for a total of 4 weeks. The conventional physiotherapy program consisted of active and passive ROM exercises, positional stretch exercises, resistance strength training, postural control exercises, and exercises to improve lower limb functions. All patients were evaluated with a modified Ashworth scale for spasticity of upper limb muscles (biceps brachii, pronator teres, and the long finger flexors) and a Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for upper limb motor functions before and after 4 weeks. Nonparametric (Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test) tests were used to analyze data statistically. This study has been registered on clinicaltrial.gov (ID: NCT05242679).ResultsA significant improvement (P < .05) was observed in the spasticity of all 3 muscles in both groups. For upper limb motor functions, significant improvement (P < .05) was observed in the experimental group only. When both groups were compared, greater improvement (P < .05) was observed in the experimental group in comparison to the control group for both spasticity of muscles and upper limb motor functions.ConclusionMyofascial release performed with a tennis ball in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy has more beneficial effects on spasticity and motor functions of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke compared to conventional therapy alone.
| S-EPMC9351921 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCombining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with other therapies is reported to produce promising results in patients with stroke. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of combining tDCS with motor imagery (MI) and upper-limb functional training for upper-limb rehabilitation among patients with chronic stroke.MethodsA single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted among 64 patients with chronic stroke. The control group received sham tDCS with MI, while the experimental group received real tDCS with MI. Both groups performed five different upper-limb functional training exercises coupled with tDCS for 30 min, five times per week for two weeks. Fugl-Meyer's scale (FMA) and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were used to measure the outcome measures at baseline and after the completion of the 10th session.ResultsAnalysis of covariance showed significant improvements in the post-test mean scores for FMA (F (414.4) = 35.79, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.37) and ARAT (F (440.09) = 37.46, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.38) in the experimental group compared to the control group while controlling for baseline scores.ConclusionsAnodal tDCS stimulation over the affected primary motor cortex coupled with MI and upper-limb functional training reduces impairment and disability of the upper limbs among patients with chronic stroke.
| S-EPMC9690138 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Persons post-stroke experience excessive muscle co-contraction, and consequently the arm functions are compromised during the activities of daily living. Therefore, identifying instrumental outcome measures able to detect the motor strategy adopted after a stroke is a primary clinical goal. Accordingly, this study aims at verifying whether the surface electromyography (sEMG)-based co-contraction index (CCI) could be a new clinically feasible approach for assessing and monitoring patients' motor performance. Thirty-four persons post-stroke underwent clinical assessment and upper extremity kinematic analysis, including sEMG recordings. The participants were randomized into two treatment groups (robot and usual care groups). Ten healthy subjects provided a normative reference (NR). Frost's CCI was used to quantify the muscle co-contraction of three different agonist/antagonist muscle pairs during an object-placing task. Persons post-stroke showed excessive muscle co-contraction (mean (95% CI): anterior/posterior deltoid CCI: 0.38 (0.34-0.41) p = 0.03; triceps/biceps CCI: 0.46 (0.41-0.50) p = 0.01) compared to NR (anterior/posterior deltoid CCI: 0.29 (0.21-0.36); triceps/biceps CCI: 0.34 (0.30-0.39)). After robot therapy, persons post-stroke exhibited a greater improvement (i.e., reduced CCI) in proximal motor control (anterior/posterior deltoid change score of CCI: -0.02 (-0.07-0.02) p = 0.05) compared to usual care therapy (0.04 (0.00-0.09)). Finally, the findings of the present study indicate that the sEMG-based CCI could be a valuable tool in clinical practice.
| S-EPMC10490112 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo evaluate if bilateral or unilateral upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation training using a new three-dimensional end-effector robot that targets shoulder and elbow flexion and abduction is superior to conventional therapy with regard to upper extremity motor function recovery and neuromuscular improvement in stroke patients.DesignRandomized, controlled, parallel, assessor-blinded, three-arm clinical trial.SettingSoutheast University Zhongda Hospital Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.MethodsSeventy patients with hemiplegic stroke were randomly assigned to conventional training (Control, n = 23) or unilateral (URT, n = 23), or bilateral robotic training (BRT, n = 24). The conventional group received routine rehabilitation, 60 min/day, 6 days/week, for 3 weeks. For URT and BRT upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation training was added. This was 60 min/day, 6 days/week, for 3 weeks. The primary outcome was upper limb motor function assessed with Fugl-Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale (FMA-UE). Secondary outcomes were activities of daily living (ADL) assessed with the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) to assess corticospinal tract connectivity, Root Mean Square (RMS) value, and integrate Electromyography (iEMG) value recorded by surface electromyography to evaluate muscle contraction function.ResultsThe primary outcome indicator FMA-UE (least square mean (LSMEAN): 31.40, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 27.74-35.07) and the secondary outcome indicator MBI (LSMEAN: 69.95, 95% CI: 66.69-73.21) were significantly improved in BRT as opposed to control (FMA-UE, LSMEAN: 24.79, 95% CI: 22.23-27.35; MBI, LSMEAN: 62.75, 95% CI: 59.42-66.09); and unilateral (FMA-UE, LSMEAN: 25.97, 95% CI: 23.57-28.36; MBI, LSMEAN: 64.34, 95% CI: 61.01-67.68). BRT also showed greater improvement in the anterior deltoid bundle with regard to muscle contraction function indicated by RMS (LSMEAN: 257.79, 95% CI: 211.45-304.12) and iEMG (LSMEAN: 202.01, 95% CI: 167.09-236.94), as compared to the controls (RMS, LSMEAN: 170.77, 95% CI: 148.97-192.58; iEMG, LSMEAN: 132.09, 95% CI: 114.51-149.68), and URT (RMS, LSMEAN: 179.05, 95% CI: 156.03-202.07; iEMG, LSMEAN: 130.38, 95% CI: 107.50-153.26). There was no statistically significant difference between URT and conventional training for any outcome. There was no significant difference in MEP extraction rate after treatment between groups (p = 0.54 for URT, p = 0.08 for BRT).ConclusionsA 60 min daily training for upper extremities using a three-dimensional end-effector targeting elbow and shoulder adding conventional rehabilitation appears to promote upper limb function and ADL in stroke patients only if delivered bilaterally. URT does not seem to result in better outcomes than conventional rehabilitation. Electrophysiological results suggest that training using a bilateral upper limb robot increases the recruitment of motor neurons rather than improving the conduction function of the corticospinal tract.
| S-EPMC10143606 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRecent evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) for stroke rehabilitation nonetheless its benefits and limitations in large population of patients have not yet been studied.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of non-immersive VR treatment for the restoration of the upper limb motor function and its impact on the activities of daily living capacities in post-stroke patients.MethodsA pragmatic clinical trial was conducted among post-stroke patients admitted to our rehabilitation hospital. We enrolled 376 subjects who had a motor arm subscore on the Italian version of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (It-NIHSS) between 1 and 3 and without severe neuropsychological impairments interfering with recovery. Patients were allocated to two treatments groups, receiving combined VR and upper limb conventional (ULC) therapy or ULC therapy alone. The treatment programs consisted of 2 hours of daily therapy, delivered 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. The outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (F-M UE) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scales.ResultsBoth treatments significantly improved F-M UE and FIM scores, but the improvement obtained with VR rehabilitation was significantly greater than that achieved with ULC therapy alone. The estimated effect size of the minimal difference between groups in F-M UE and FIM scores was 2.5 ± 0.5 (P < 0.001) pts and 3.2 ± 1.2 (P = 0.007) pts, respectively.ConclusionsVR rehabilitation in post-stroke patients seems more effective than conventional interventions in restoring upper limb motor impairments and motor related functional abilities.Trial registrationItalian Ministry of Health IRCCS Research Programme 2590412.
| S-EPMC3734026 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Effective poststroke motor rehabilitation depends on repeated limb practice with voluntary efforts. An electromyography (EMG)-driven neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)-robot arm was designed for the multi-joint physical training on the elbow, the wrist, and the fingers. OBJECTIVES:To investigate the training effects of the device-assisted approach on subacute stroke patients and to compare the effects with those achieved by the traditional physical treatments. METHOD:This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. Subacute stroke participants were randomly assigned into two groups, and then received 20-session upper limb training with the EMG-driven NMES-robotic arm (NMES-robot group, n?=?14) or the time-matched traditional therapy (the control, n?=?10). For the evaluation of the training effects, clinical assessments including Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Score (MAS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and Function Independence Measurement (FIM) were conducted before, after the rehabilitation training, and 3?months later. Session-by-session EMG parameters in the NMES-robot group, including normalized co-contraction Indexes (CI) and EMG activation level of target muscles, were used to monitor the progress in muscular coordination patterns. RESULTS:Significant improvements were obtained in FMA (full score and shoulder/elbow), ARAT, and FIM [P?<?0.001, effect sizes (EFs)?>?0.279] for both groups. Significant improvement in FMA wrist/hand was only observed in the NMES-robot group (P?<?0.001, EFs?=?0.435) after the treatments. Significant reduction in MAS wrist was observed in the NMES-robot group after the training (P?<?0.05, EFs?=?0.145) and the effects were maintained for 3?months. MAS scores in the control group were elevated following training (P?<?0.05, EFs?>?0.24), and remained at an elevated level when assessed 3?months later. The EMG parameters indicated a release of muscle co-contraction in the muscle pairs of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis and biceps brachii and triceps brachii, as well as a reduction of muscle activation level in the wrist flexor in the NMES-robot group. CONCLUSION:The NMES-robot-assisted training was effective for early stroke upper limb rehabilitation and promoted independence in the daily living comparable to the traditional physical therapy. It could achieve higher motor outcomes at the distal joints and more effective release in muscle tones than the traditional therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02117089; date of registration: April 10, 2014.
| S-EPMC5591334 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Upper limb motor deficits in severe stroke survivors often remain unresolved over extended time periods. Novel neurotechnologies have the potential to significantly support upper limb motor restoration in severely impaired stroke individuals. Here, we review recent controlled clinical studies and reviews focusing on the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of single and combined technology-aided interventions for upper limb motor rehabilitation after stroke, including robotics, muscular electrical stimulation, brain stimulation and brain computer/machine interfaces. We aim at identifying possible guidance for the optimal use of these new technologies to enhance upper limb motor recovery especially in severe chronic stroke patients. We found that the current literature does not provide enough evidence to support strict guidelines, because of the variability of the procedures for each intervention and of the heterogeneity of the stroke population. The present results confirm that neurotechnology-aided upper limb rehabilitation is promising for severe chronic stroke patients, but the combination of interventions often lacks understanding of single intervention mechanisms of action, which may not reflect the summation of single intervention's effectiveness. Stroke rehabilitation is a long and complex process, and one single intervention administrated in a short time interval cannot have a large impact for motor recovery, especially in severely impaired patients. To design personalized interventions combining or proposing different interventions in sequence, it is necessary to have an excellent understanding of the mechanisms determining the effectiveness of a single treatment in this heterogeneous population of stroke patients. We encourage the identification of objective biomarkers for stroke recovery for patients' stratification and to tailor treatments. Furthermore, the advantage of longitudinal personalized trial designs compared to classical double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials as the basis for precise personalized stroke rehabilitation medicine is discussed. Finally, we also promote the necessary conceptual change from 'one-suits-all' treatments within in-patient clinical rehabilitation set-ups towards personalized home-based treatment strategies, by adopting novel technologies merging rehabilitation and motor assistance, including implantable ones.
| S-EPMC6658861 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundLower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher mortality rates and the likelihood of receiving less evidence-based treatment after stroke. In contrast, little is known about the impact of SES on recovery after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of SES on long-term recovery after stroke.Patients and methodsIn a prospective, observational, multicentre study, inpatients were recruited towards the end of rehabilitation. The 12-month follow-up focussed on upper limb motor recovery, measured by the Fugl-Meyer score. A clinically relevant improvement of ≥5.25 points was considered recovery. Patient-centric measures such as the Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Health (PROMIS-10 PH) provided secondary outcomes. Information on schooling, vocational training, income and occupational status pre-stroke entered a multidimensional SES index. Multivariate logistic regression models calculating odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were applied. SES was added to an initial model including age, sex and baseline neurological deficit. Additional exploratory analyses examined the association between SES and outpatient treatment.ResultsOne hundred and seventy-six patients were enrolled of whom 98 had SES and long-term recovery data. Model comparisons showed the SES-model superior to the initial model (Akaike information criterion (AIC): 123 vs. 120, Pseudo R2: 0.09 vs. 0.13). The likelihood of motor recovery (OR = 17.12, 95%CI = 1.31; 224.18) and PROMIS-10 PH improvement (OR = 20.76, 95%CI = 1.28; 337.11) were significantly increased with higher SES, along with more frequent use of outpatient therapy (p = .02).ConclusionsHigher pre-stroke SES is associated with better long-term recovery after discharge from rehabilitation. Understanding these factors can improve outpatient long-term stroke care and lead to better recovery.KEY MESSAGEHigher pre-stroke socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with better long-term recovery after discharge from rehabilitation both in terms of motor function and self-reported health status.Higher SES is associated with significantly higher utilization of outpatient therapies.Discharge management of rehabilitation clinics should identify and address socioeconomic factors in order to detect individual needs and to improve outpatient recovery. Article registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT04119479.
| S-EPMC9090381 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundUpper limb kinematic assessments provide quantifiable information on qualitative movement behavior and limitations after stroke. A comprehensive characterization of spatiotemporal kinematics of stroke subjects during upper limb daily living activities is lacking. Herein, kinematic expressions were investigated with respect to different movement types and impairment levels for the entire task as well as for motion subphases.MethodChronic stroke subjects with upper limb movement impairments and healthy subjects performed a set of daily living activities including gesture and grasp movements. Kinematic measures of trunk displacement, shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder abduction/adduction, elbow flexion/extension, forearm pronation/supination, wrist flexion/extension, movement time, hand peak velocity, number of velocity peaks (NVP), and spectral arc length (SPARC) were extracted for the whole movement as well as the subphases of reaching distally and proximally. The effects of the factors gesture versus grasp movements, and the impairment level on the kinematics of the whole task were tested. Similarities considering the metrics expressions and relations were investigated for the subphases of reaching proximally and distally between tasks and subgroups.ResultsData of 26 stroke and 5 healthy subjects were included. Gesture and grasp movements were differently expressed across subjects. Gestures were performed with larger shoulder motions besides higher peak velocity. Grasp movements were expressed by larger trunk, forearm, and wrist motions. Trunk displacement, movement time, and NVP increased and shoulder flexion/extension decreased significantly with increased impairment level. Across tasks, phases of reaching distally were comparable in terms of trunk displacement, shoulder motions and peak velocity, while reaching proximally showed comparable expressions in trunk motions. Consistent metric relations during reaching distally were found between shoulder flexion/extension, elbow flexion/extension, peak velocity, and between movement time, NVP, and SPARC. Reaching proximally revealed reproducible correlations between forearm pronation/supination and wrist flexion/extension, movement time and NVP.ConclusionSpatiotemporal differences between gestures versus grasp movements and between different impairment levels were confirmed. The consistencies of metric expressions during movement subphases across tasks can be useful for linking kinematic assessment standards and daily living measures in future research and performing task and study comparisons.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03135093. Registered 26 April 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03135093 .
| S-EPMC8753836 | biostudies-literature