In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study

Objects: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of in-bed wearable elbow robot training for motor recovery in patients with early and late subacute stroke.Methods: Eleven in-patient stroke survivors (male/female: 7/4, age: 50.7 ± 10.6 years, post-stroke duration: 2.6 ± 1.9 months) received 15...

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Main Authors: Mei Zhen Huang, Yong-Soon Yoon, Jisu Yang, Chung-Yong Yang, Li-Qun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.669059/full
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author Mei Zhen Huang
Yong-Soon Yoon
Jisu Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
author_facet Mei Zhen Huang
Yong-Soon Yoon
Jisu Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
author_sort Mei Zhen Huang
collection DOAJ
description Objects: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of in-bed wearable elbow robot training for motor recovery in patients with early and late subacute stroke.Methods: Eleven in-patient stroke survivors (male/female: 7/4, age: 50.7 ± 10.6 years, post-stroke duration: 2.6 ± 1.9 months) received 15 sessions of training over about 4 weeks of hospital stay. During each hourly training, participants received passive stretching and active movement training with motivating games using a wearable elbow rehabilitation robot. Isometric maximum muscle strength (MVC) of elbow flexors and extensors was evaluated using the robot at the beginning and end of each training session. Clinical measures including Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE), Motricity Index (MI) for upper extremities, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were measured at baseline, after the 4-week training program, and at a 1-month follow-up. The muscle strength recovery curve over the training period was characterized as a logarithmic learning curve with three parameters (i.e., initial muscle strength, rate of improvement, and number of the training session).Results: At the baseline, participants had moderate to severe upper limb motor impairment {FMA-UE [median (interquartile range)]: 28 (18–45)} and mild spasticity in elbow flexors {MAS [median (interquartile range)]: 0 (0–1)}. After about 4 weeks of training, significant improvements were observed in FMA-UE (p = 0.003) and MI (p = 0.005), and the improvements were sustained at the follow-up. The elbow flexors MVC significantly increased by 1.93 Nm (95% CI: 0.93 to 2.93 Nm, p = 0.017) and the elbow extensor MVC increased by 0.68 Nm (95% CI: 0.05 to 1.98 Nm, p = 0.036). Muscle strength recovery curve showed that patients with severe upper limb motor impairment had a greater improvement rate in elbow flexor strength than those with moderate motor impairment.Conclusion: In-bed wearable elbow robotic rehabilitation is feasible and effective in improving biomechanical and clinical outcomes for early and late subacute stroke in-patients. Results from the pilot study suggested that patients with severe upper limb motor impairment may benefit more from the robot training compared to those with moderate impairment.
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spelling doaj.art-5724c06e6ec34dd7931c5c304cfce2c62022-12-21T21:58:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612021-05-011510.3389/fnhum.2021.669059669059In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot StudyMei Zhen Huang0Yong-Soon Yoon1Jisu Yang2Chung-Yong Yang3Chung-Yong Yang4Li-Qun Zhang5Li-Qun Zhang6Li-Qun Zhang7Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonbuk, South KoreaDepartment of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Seum Hospital, Jeonbuk, South KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United StatesObjects: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of in-bed wearable elbow robot training for motor recovery in patients with early and late subacute stroke.Methods: Eleven in-patient stroke survivors (male/female: 7/4, age: 50.7 ± 10.6 years, post-stroke duration: 2.6 ± 1.9 months) received 15 sessions of training over about 4 weeks of hospital stay. During each hourly training, participants received passive stretching and active movement training with motivating games using a wearable elbow rehabilitation robot. Isometric maximum muscle strength (MVC) of elbow flexors and extensors was evaluated using the robot at the beginning and end of each training session. Clinical measures including Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE), Motricity Index (MI) for upper extremities, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were measured at baseline, after the 4-week training program, and at a 1-month follow-up. The muscle strength recovery curve over the training period was characterized as a logarithmic learning curve with three parameters (i.e., initial muscle strength, rate of improvement, and number of the training session).Results: At the baseline, participants had moderate to severe upper limb motor impairment {FMA-UE [median (interquartile range)]: 28 (18–45)} and mild spasticity in elbow flexors {MAS [median (interquartile range)]: 0 (0–1)}. After about 4 weeks of training, significant improvements were observed in FMA-UE (p = 0.003) and MI (p = 0.005), and the improvements were sustained at the follow-up. The elbow flexors MVC significantly increased by 1.93 Nm (95% CI: 0.93 to 2.93 Nm, p = 0.017) and the elbow extensor MVC increased by 0.68 Nm (95% CI: 0.05 to 1.98 Nm, p = 0.036). Muscle strength recovery curve showed that patients with severe upper limb motor impairment had a greater improvement rate in elbow flexor strength than those with moderate motor impairment.Conclusion: In-bed wearable elbow robotic rehabilitation is feasible and effective in improving biomechanical and clinical outcomes for early and late subacute stroke in-patients. Results from the pilot study suggested that patients with severe upper limb motor impairment may benefit more from the robot training compared to those with moderate impairment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.669059/fullstroke rehabilitationrobotrecovery time courseupper limbssubacute stroke
spellingShingle Mei Zhen Huang
Yong-Soon Yoon
Jisu Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Chung-Yong Yang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
Li-Qun Zhang
In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
stroke rehabilitation
robot
recovery time course
upper limbs
subacute stroke
title In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
title_full In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
title_fullStr In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
title_short In-Bed Sensorimotor Rehabilitation in Early and Late Subacute Stroke Using a Wearable Elbow Robot: A Pilot Study
title_sort in bed sensorimotor rehabilitation in early and late subacute stroke using a wearable elbow robot a pilot study
topic stroke rehabilitation
robot
recovery time course
upper limbs
subacute stroke
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.669059/full
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