scholarly journals Low-Cost Tracking Systems Allow Fine Biomechanical Evaluation of Upper-Limb Daily-Life Gestures in Healthy People and Post-Stroke Patients

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Scano ◽  
Franco Molteni ◽  
Lorenzo Molinari Tosatti
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Healthy People ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Compensatory Strategies ◽  
Kinect V2 ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Impaired Limb

Since the release of the first Kinect in 2011, low-cost technologies for upper-limb evaluation has been employed frequently for rehabilitation purposes. However, a limited number of studies have assessed the potential of the Kinect V2 for motor evaluations. In this paper, a simple biomechanical protocol has been developed, in order to assess the performances of healthy people and patients, during daily-life reaching movements, with focus on some of the patients’ common compensatory strategies. The assessment considers shoulder range of motion, elbow range of motion, trunk compensatory strategies, and movement smoothness. Seventy-seven healthy people and twenty post-stroke patients participated to test the biomechanical assessment. The testing protocol included four different experimental conditions: (1) dominant limb and (2) non-dominant limb of 77 healthy people, and (3) the more impaired limb of 20 post-stroke hemiparetic patients, and (4) the less-impaired limb of 11 patients (subgroup of the original 20). Biomechanical performances of the four groups were compared. Results showed that the dominant and non-dominant limbs of healthy people had comparable performances (p > 0.05). On the contrary, condition (3) showed statistically significant differences between the healthy dominant/non-dominant limb and the less-affected limb in hemiparetic patients, for all parameters of assessment (p < 0.001). In some cases, the less-affected limb of the patients also showed statistical differences (p < 0.05), with respect to the healthy people. Such results suggest that Kinect V2 has the potential for being employed at home, laboratory or clinical environment, for the evaluation of patients’ motor performances.

scholarly journals Kinect V2 Performance Assessment in Daily-Life Gestures: Cohort Study on Healthy Subjects for a Reference Database for Automated Instrumental Evaluations on Neurological Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Scano ◽  
Andrea Chiavenna ◽  
Matteo Malosio ◽  
Lorenzo Molinari Tosatti
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Healthy People ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Kinect V2 ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Neurological Patients

Background. The increase of sanitary costs related to poststroke rehabilitation requires new sustainable and cost-effective strategies for promoting autonomous and dehospitalized motor training. In the Riprendo@Home and Future Home for Future Communities research projects, the promising approach of introducing low-cost technologies that promote home rehabilitation is exploited. In order to provide reliable evaluation of patients, a reference database of healthy people’s performances is required and should consider variability related to healthy people performances.Methods.78 healthy subjects performed several repetitions of daily-life gestures, the reaching movement (RM) and hand-to-mouth (HtMM) movement with both the dominant and nondominant upper limbs. Movements were recorded with a Kinect V2. A synthetic biomechanical protocol based on kinematical, dynamical, and motor control parameters was used to assess motor performance of the healthy people. The investigation was conducted by clustering participants depending on their limb dominancy (right/left), gender (male/female), and age (young/middle/senior) as sources of variability.Results.Results showed that limb dominancy has minor relevance in affecting RM and HtMM; gender has relevance in affecting the HtMM; age has major effect in affecting RM and HtMM.Conclusions.An investigation of healthy subjects’ upper limb performances during daily-life gestures was performed with the Kinect V2 sensor. Findings will be the basis for a database of normative data for neurological patients’ motor evaluation.

Sequentially applied myoelectrically controlled FES in a task-oriented approach and robotic therapy for the recovery of upper limb in post-stroke patients: A randomized controlled pilot study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Gloria Perini ◽  
Rita Bertoni ◽  
Rune Thorsen ◽  
Ilaria Carpinella ◽  
Tiziana Lencioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Experimental Treatment ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Rehabilitation Care ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Robotic Therapy ◽  
Arm Rehabilitation ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Task Oriented

BACKGROUND: Functional recovery of the plegic upper limb in post-stroke patients may be enhanced by sequentially applying a myoelectrically controlled FES (MeCFES), which allows the patient to voluntarily control the muscle contraction during a functional movement and robotic therapy which allows many repetitions of movements. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy of MeCFES followed by robotic therapy compared to standard care arm rehabilitation for post-stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen stroke subjects (onset ⩾ 3 months, age 60.1 ± 15.5) were recruited and randomized to receive an experimental combination of MeCFES during task-oriented reaching followed by robot therapy (MRG) or same intensity conventional rehabilitation care (CG) aimed at the recovery of the upper limb (20 sessions/45 minutes). Change was evaluated through Fugl-Meyer upperextremity (FMA-UE), Reaching Performance Scale and Box and Block Test. RESULTS: The experimental treatment resulted in higher improvement on the FMA-UE compared with CG (P= 0.04), with a 10 point increase following intervention. Effect sizes were moderate in favor of the MRG group on FMA-UE, FMA-UE proximal and RPS (0.37–0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings indicate that a combination of MeCFES and robotic treatment may be more effective than standard care for recovery of the plegic arm in persons > 3 months after stroke. The mix of motor learning techniques may be important for successful rehabilitation of arm function.

Music-supported therapy (MST) in improving post-stroke patients' upper-limb motor function: a randomised controlled pilot study

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 434-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanna Tong ◽  
Brian Forreider ◽  
Xinting Sun ◽  
Xiaokun Geng ◽  
Weidong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Randomised Controlled

scholarly journals Brain stimulation for arm recovery after stroke (B-STARS): protocol for a randomised controlled trial in subacute stroke patients

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016566
Author(s):  
Eline C C van Lieshout ◽  
Johanna M A Visser-Meily ◽  
Sebastiaan F W Neggers ◽  
H Bart van der Worp ◽  
Rick M Dijkhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Subacute Stroke

IntroductionMany patients with stroke have moderate to severe long-term sensorimotor impairments, often including inability to execute movements of the affected arm or hand. Limited recovery from stroke may be partly caused by imbalanced interaction between the cerebral hemispheres, with reduced excitability of the ipsilesional motor cortex while excitability of the contralesional motor cortex is increased. Non-invasive brain stimulation with inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the contralesional hemisphere may aid in relieving a post-stroke interhemispheric excitability imbalance, which could improve functional recovery. There are encouraging effects of theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of TMS, in patients with chronic stroke, but evidence on efficacy and long-term effects on arm function of contralesional TBS in patients with subacute hemiparetic stroke is lacking.Methods and analysisIn a randomised clinical trial, we will assign 60 patients with a first-ever ischaemic stroke in the previous 7–14 days and a persistent paresis of one arm to 10 sessions of real stimulation with TBS of the contralesional primary motor cortex or to sham stimulation over a period of 2 weeks. Both types of stimulation will be followed by upper limb training. A subset of patients will undergo five MRI sessions to assess post-stroke brain reorganisation. The primary outcome measure will be the upper limb function score, assessed from grasp, grip, pinch and gross movements in the action research arm test, measured at 3 months after stroke. Patients will be blinded to treatment allocation. The primary outcome at 3 months will also be assessed in a blinded fashion.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. The results will be disseminated through (open access) peer-reviewed publications, networks of scientists, professionals and the public, and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberNTR6133

Anti-spastic effect of low-frequency rTMS applied with occupational therapy in post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis

Brain Injury ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 496-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wataru Kakuda ◽  
Masahiro Abo ◽  
Kazushige Kobayashi ◽  
Ryo Momosaki ◽  
Aki Yokoi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Upper Limb Hemiparesis ◽  
Low Frequency Rtms

scholarly journals Design and Analysis of Cloud Upper Limb Rehabilitation System Based on Motion Tracking for Post-Stroke Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bai ◽  
Song ◽  
Li
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Motion Tracking ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Training ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Reachable Workspace ◽  
Rehabilitation System ◽  
Limb Rehabilitation

In order to improve the convenience and practicability of home rehabilitation training for post-stroke patients, this paper presents a cloud-based upper limb rehabilitation system based on motion tracking. A 3-dimensional reachable workspace virtual game (3D-RWVG) was developed to achieve meaningful home rehabilitation training. Five movements were selected as the criteria for rehabilitation assessment. Analysis was undertaken of the upper limb performance parameters: relative surface area (RSA), mean velocity (MV), logarithm of dimensionless jerk (LJ) and logarithm of curvature (LC). A two-headed convolutional neural network (TCNN) model was established for the assessment. The experiment was carried out in the hospital. The results show that the RSA, MV, LC and LJ could reflect the upper limb motor function intuitively from the graphs. The accuracy of the TCNN models is 92.6%, 80%, 89.5%, 85.1% and 87.5%, respectively. A therapist could check patient training and assessment information through the cloud database and make a diagnosis. The system can realize home rehabilitation training and assessment without the supervision of a therapist, and has the potential to become an effective home rehabilitation system.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Effects of Botulinum Toxin Injection and Physiotherapy on Post-Stroke Patients During One Year Observation - a Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuzanna Olszewska ◽  
Elżbieta Mirek ◽  
Kinga Opoka-Kubica ◽  
Szymon Pasiut Szymon Pasiut ◽  
Magdalena Filip
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Muscle Tone ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Botulinum Toxin Injection ◽  
Upper Limbs ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke

Introduction: Stroke is a serious health problem in the modern population. Spasticity is one of the consequences of stroke and affects about 30% of people. Increased muscle tone affects postural control disorders. Due to the specificity of spasticity, therapy in post-stroke patients is a challenge for neurological physiotherapy. Therefore, it requires the development of appropriate management standards . Study aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 combination therapy cycles based on botulinum toxin injection and physiotherapy for muscle tone, muscle strength and postural stability in post-stroke patients qualified for the spasticity treatment programme of the lower and upper limbs. Material and methods: The pilot study involved 12 patients (6 from the lower limb and 6 from the upper limb programme). The 1-year combination therapy programmes included 3 botulinum toxin injections and 3 weeks of physiotherapy after each injection. Clinical evaluation was conducted before and after the 1-year observation cycle. The results were evaluated using: MAS (Modified Ashworth Scale), MRC (Medical Research Council Scale) and posture stability test on a balance platform (BiodexSD). Results: A decrease was observed in muscle tone of the lower and upper limbs, as well as an increase in muscular strength of the upper limb. However, there were no noted statistical significance of the studied parameters. Conclusions: Physiotherapy in combination with the botulinum toxin is an important element of improvement in post-stroke patients. However, further research is needed to explicitly confirm its effectiveness.

scholarly journals Wrist Actimetry Biomarker Development of Paretic Upper Limb Use in Post Stroke Patients for Ecological Monitoring.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Dusfour ◽  
Denis Mottet ◽  
Makii Muthalib ◽  
Isabelle Laffont ◽  
Karima K.A. Bakhti
Keyword(s):  
Home Environment ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Cumulative Probability ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Upper Limbs ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Paretic Side

Abstract Background In post-stroke patients it is unclear which wrist actimetry biomarkers to use to estimate the degree of upper limb hemiparesis. The objective of this study was to develop a general and objective framework for monitoring hemiparetic patients in their home environment via different biomarkers based on 7 days of actimetry data. A secondary objective was to use all of these biomarkers to better understand the mechanism for potential non-use of the paretic upper limb. Methods Accelerometers were worn continuously for a period of 7 days on both wrists of 10 post-stroke hemiparetic patients as well as 6 healthy subjects. Various wrist actimetry biomarkers were calculated, including the Jerk ratio 50 (JR50, cumulative probability that the Jerk Ratio is between 0 and 0.5), absolute and relative amounts of functional use of movements of the upper limbs (FuncUse and FuncUseR) and absolute and relative velocities of the upper limbs during functional use (VUL and VULR). For each biomarker, the values of stroke and healthy groups were compared. The correlations between all the biomarkers were studied. Results We studied 10 participants with mild-to-moderate chronic hemiparesis and 6 healthy control participants. FuncUse and VUL of the paretic upper limb of stroke patients were significantly lower than in the non-dominant upper limb of healthy subjects. Similarly, FuncUseR (paretic/non-paretic vs non-dominant/dominant), JR and VULR are significantly lower in stroke patients than in healthy subjects. FuncUseR, VULR and JR50 seem to be complementary biomarkers for monitoring patient strokes. Conclusion The stroke patients do not seem to compensate for the decrease in functional movement on the paretic side by an increase on the non-paretic side. The speed of execution of functional movements on the paretic side could be the limiting factor to a normal use of the paretic upper limb. A thorough clinical study is needed to identify the limiting factors. In conclusion, this study for the first time has shown actimetry is a robust and non-obtrusive lightweight technology for continuously acquiring objective upper limb data of paretic arm use/ non-use over an extended period in a home environment for monitoring stroke patients.

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