Outcome measurement of hand function following mirror therapy for stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review

Influencing factors of corticomuscular coherence in stroke patients

Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident, is an acute cerebrovascular disease with a high incidence, disability rate, and mortality. It can disrupt the interaction between the cerebral cortex and external muscles. Corticomuscular coherence (CMC) is a common and useful method for studying how the cerebral cortex controls muscle activity. CMC can expose functional connections between the cortex and muscle, reflecting the information flow in the motor system. Afferent feedback related to CMC can reveal these functional connections. This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing CMC in stroke patients and provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of the current research in this area. This paper begins by discussing the impact of stroke and the significance of CMC in stroke patients. It then proceeds to elaborate on the mechanism of CMC and its defining formula. Next, the impacts of various factors on CMC in stroke patients were discussed individually. Lastly, this paper addresses current challenges and future prospects for CMC.

Is mirror therapy combined with a routine physiotherapy protocol effective for children with obstetrical upper brachial plexus palsy?

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled study.

INTRODUCTION

Mirror therapy is a rehabilitation strategy based on the repeated use of the mirror illusion and also one of the treatment choice of brachial plexus injuries.

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine the effects of mirror therapy combined with a routine rehabilitation program on upper limb motor function in children with obstetric brachial plexus injury.

METHODS

Twenty children with obstetric brachial palsy were included in this study. They were randomly allocated to either control (n = 10) or mirror therapy (n = 10) group. The following clinical tools were used to assess the upper extremity function: Active Movement Scale (AMS), Modified Mallet Scale (MMS), Hand Grip Strength (HGS) Test, Finger Grip Strength (FGSM) Test, Box and Block Test (BBT), Nine Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), and goniometric measurement. Both groups received the same routine physiotherapy program for 8 weeks. The study group underwent mirror therapy in addition to the rehabilitation program.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 11.35 ± 4.12 years. There was no change in the goniometric values, AMS and MMS scores after the treatment in both groups (p > 0.05), except for the improvement of the wrist extension in the study group (p < 0.05). There was an increase in both HGS and FGS scores in the study group. Only FGS scores improved in the control group after the intervention (p < 0.05). 9-HPT and BBT scores improved in both groups (p < 0.05). All other parameters tested were comparable between the two groups after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study did not show any additional benefits of mirror therapy combined with a rehabilitation protocol compared to routine physiotherapy treatment, but was not adequately powered to do so.

Protocol for a single-blind randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of bilateral transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper extremity motor function in patients recovering from stroke

BACKGROUND

No consensus currently exists regarding the optimal protocol for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment of upper-extremity motor dysfunction after stroke. Studies have shown that combined low- and high-frequency stimulation (LF-HF-rTMS) of the bilateral cerebral hemispheres is more effective than sham stimulation or stimulation of one cerebral hemisphere alone in treating motor dysfunction in the subacute stage of stroke. The efficacy of this protocol in the convalescence phase of stroke has rarely been reported, and its mechanism of action has not been clarified. In this study, we designed a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of different stimulation regimens for the treatment of upper extremity motor disorders in patients with convalescent stage stroke and aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms based on biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

METHODS

Seventy-six subjects will be randomly divided into combined, low-frequency, high-frequency, and control groups based on the proportion of 1:1:1:1, with 19 cases in each group. All groups will have conventional rehabilitation, on top of which the combined group will receive 1 Hz rTMS in the unaffected hemisphere and 10 Hz rTMS in the affected hemisphere. The low-frequency group will be administered 1 Hz rTMS in the unaffected hemisphere and sham stimulation in the contralateral hemisphere. The high-frequency group will be administered 10 Hz rTMS in the affected hemisphere and contralateral sham stimulation. The control group will receive bilateral sham stimulation. Assessments will be performed at baseline, after 2 weeks of treatment, and at post-treatment follow-up at week 6. The primary outcomes are FMA-UE (Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity), latency, and serum BDNF levels. The secondary outcomes are the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Brunnstrom staging (BS), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), central motor conduction time (CMCT), precursor proteins of mature BDNF (proBDNF), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels. Adverse events, such as headaches and seizures, will be recorded throughout the study.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this study will help develop optimal stimulation protocols for motor recovery in stroke patients and identify biomarkers that respond to post-stroke motor rehabilitation, for better guidance of clinical treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was passed by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University on January 1, 2022 (no. KYLL-2021-1082). It was registered into the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry on May 22, 2022 (no. ChiCTR2200060201). This study is currently in progress.

Quantitative assessment of thenar to evaluate hand function after stroke by Bayes discriminant

BACKGROUND

The incidence rate of stroke or cerebrovascular accidents ranks first in China. More than 85% of stroke patients have residual upper limb motor dysfunction, especially hand dysfunction. Normalizing the rehabilitation evaluation process and standard quantitative evaluation method is a complex and key point in rehabilitation therapy. The study aimed to establish a function model based on the Bayes discriminant by measuring the thenar stiffness with shear wave elastography (SWE) to quantitatively evaluate the hand motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke.

METHODS

This study collected 60 patients diagnosed with hemiplegia after stroke from October 2021 to October 2022. Therapists used the Brunnstrom assessment (BA)scale to divide the patients into the stage. All the patients underwent the measurement of SWE examination of abductor pollicis brevis (APB), opponens pollicis (OP), flexor pollicis long tendon (FPLT), and flexor pollicis brevis (FPB) by two sonographers. The SWE change rate of four parts of the thenar area was calculated prospectively with the non-hemiplegic side as the reference, the function equation was established by the Bayes discriminant method, and the evaluation model was fitted according to the acquired training set data. Lastly, the model was verified by self-validation, cross-validation, and external data validation methods. The classification performance was evaluated regarding the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity.

RESULTS

The median SWE values of the hemiplegic side of patients were lower than those of the non-hemiplegic side. According to the BA stage and SWER of APB, OP, FPLT, and FPB, our study established the Bayes discriminative model and validated it via self-validation and cross-validation methods. Then, the discriminant equation was used to validate 18 patients prospectively, the diagnostic coincidence rate was about 78.8%, and the misjudgment rate was approximately 21.2%. The AUC of the discriminant model for diagnosing BA stage I-VI was 0.928(95% CI: 0.839-1.0),0.858(95% CI: 0.748-0.969),1.0(95% CI: 1.0-1.0), 0.777(95% CI: 0.599-0.954),0.785(95% CI: 0.593-0.977) and 0.985(95% CI: 0.959-1.0), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This Bayes discriminant model built by measuring thenar stiffness was of diagnostic value and can provide an objective basis for evaluating clinical rehabilitation.

Relationship between Corticospinal Excitability While Gazing at the Mirror and Motor Imagery Ability

Mirror therapy (MT) helps stroke survivors recover motor function. Previous studies have reported that an individual's motor imagery ability is related to the areas of brain activity during motor imagery and the effectiveness of motor imagery training. However, the relationship between MT and motor imagery ability and between corticospinal tract excitability during mirror gazing, an important component of MT, and motor imagery ability is unclear. This study determined whether the motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude while gazing at the mirror relates to participants' motor imagery abilities. Twenty-four healthy right-handed adults (seven males) were recruited. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was performed while gazing at the mirror, and MEP of the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the right hand were measured. Motor imagery ability was measured using the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ), which assesses the vividness of motor imagery ability. Additionally, a mental chronometry (MC) task was used to assess time aspects. The results showed a significant moderate correlation between changes in MEP amplitude values while gazing at the mirror, as compared with resting conditions, and assessment scores of KVIQ. This study shows that corticospinal excitability because of mirror gazing may be related to the vividness of motor imagery ability.

Somesthetic, Visual, and Auditory Feedback and Their Interactions Applied to Upper Limb Neurorehabilitation Technology: A Narrative Review to Facilitate Contextualization of Knowledge

Reduced hand dexterity is a common component of sensorimotor impairments for individuals after stroke. To improve hand function, innovative rehabilitation interventions are constantly developed and tested. In this context, technology-based interventions for hand rehabilitation have been emerging rapidly. This paper offers an overview of basic knowledge on post lesion plasticity and sensorimotor integration processes in the context of augmented feedback and new rehabilitation technologies, in particular virtual reality and soft robotic gloves. We also discuss some factors to consider related to the incorporation of augmented feedback in the development of technology-based interventions in rehabilitation. This includes factors related to feedback delivery parameter design, task complexity and heterogeneity of sensory deficits in individuals affected by a stroke. In spite of the current limitations in our understanding of the mechanisms involved when using new rehabilitation technologies, the multimodal augmented feedback approach appears promising and may provide meaningful ways to optimize recovery after stroke. Moving forward, we argue that comparative studies allowing stratification of the augmented feedback delivery parameters based upon different biomarkers, lesion characteristics or impairments should be advocated (e.g., injured hemisphere, lesion location, lesion volume, sensorimotor impairments). Ultimately, we envision that treatment design should combine augmented feedback of multiple modalities, carefully adapted to the specific condition of the individuals affected by a stroke and that evolves along with recovery. This would better align with the new trend in stroke rehabilitation which challenges the popular idea of the existence of an ultimate good-for-all intervention.

Development and Testing of a Portable Virtual Reality-Based Mirror Visual Feedback System with Behavioral Measures Monitoring

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that has been used to provide the Mirror Visual Feedback (MVF) illusion to patients with promising results. In the present work, the goal is to design, develop and test a portable VR-based MVF system that monitors behavioral information about the performance of a simple motor task. The developed application runs in a stand-alone VR system and allows the researcher to select the real and virtual hands used to perform the motor task. The system was evaluated with a group of twenty healthy volunteers (12 men and 8 women) with ages between 18 and 66 years. Participants had to repetitively perform a motor task in four different experimental conditions: two mirror conditions (performing real movements with the dominant and with the non-dominant hand) and two non-mirror conditions. A significant effect of the experimental condition on embodiment score (p < 0.001), response time (p < 0.001), performance time (p < 0.001), trajectory length (p < 0.004) and trajectory maximum horizontal deviation (p < 0.001) was observed. Furthermore, a significant effect of the experimental moment (initial, middle and final parts of the training) on the performance time was observed (p < 0.001). These results show that the monitored parameters provide relevant information to evaluate the participant’s task performance in different experimental conditions.

Effectiveness of self-administered mirror therapy on upper extremity impairments and function of acute stroke patients: study protocol

Background

Many therapeutic interventions are performed by physiotherapists to improve upper extremity function and/or activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Mirror therapy (MT) is a simple technique that can be self-administered by the patients with intact cognition following patient education by a skilled physiotherapist. However, the effectiveness of self-administered MT in post-stroke patients in upper extremity function remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of MT in improving upper extremity function and recovery in acute stroke patients.

Methods

This study is a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, controlled trial with blinded outcome evaluation (PROBE design), in which a total of 36 eligible acute stroke patients will be randomly assigned to control (n=18) and experimental group (n=18). Participants in the control group will receive regular rehabilitation interventions whereas participants in the experimental group will receive MT education in addition to their regular interventions for 4 weeks.

Study outcome

The primary outcome measure will be upper extremity function that will be measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale and the Wolf Motor Function Test. The secondary outcome measure will be behaviors related to ADL as estimated using the Modified Barthel Index. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks post-rehabilitation intervention/MT.

Results

A two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) with time and group effects will be used to analyze between-group differences. The level of significance will be set at P < 0.05.

Conclusion

The results of the study will provide critical information to include self-administered MT as an adjuvant to regular interventions and may facilitate recovery of the upper extremity function of stroke patients.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04542772. Registered on 9 September 2020. Protocol version: Final 1.0.

Combination therapy with repetitive facilitative exercise program and botulinum toxin type A to improve motor function for the upper-limb spastic paresis in chronic stroke: A randomized controlled trial

STUDY DESIGN

An open-label, randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial.

INTRODUCTION

Repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE) is a movement therapy to recover from hemiparesis after stroke. However, improvement is inhibited by spasticity. Recently, botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been shown to reduce spasticity.

PURPOSE

To examine the combined effect of an RFE program and BoNT-A treatment on upper-limb spastic paresis in chronic stroke.

METHODS

Forty chronic stroke inpatients with upper-limb spastic paresis (Brunnstrom stage ≥III and Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] score ≥1) were enrolled. Subjects were randomized into 2 groups of 20 each and received 4 weeks of treatment. The intervention group received RFE and BoNT-A injection; the control group underwent RFE only. Assessments were performed at baseline and at study conclusion. The primary outcome was change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score for the upper extremity (FMA). The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), active range of motion, Box and Block Test, and MAS were also evaluated.

RESULTS

All participants completed this study. After 4 weeks, the intervention group evidenced a significantly greater increase in FMA score (median 11.0 [range 4-20]) than the control group (median 3.0 [range 0-9]) (P < .01, r = 0.79); as well as improvements in the other measures such as ARAT (median 12.5 [range 4-22] vs 7 [0-13]) (P < .01, r = 0.6), and MAS in the elbow flexors (median -1.5 [range -2 to 0] vs -1 [-2 to 0]) (P < .01, r = 0.45).

DISCUSSION

A high degree of repetitive volitional movement induced by the facilitative technique with concomitant control of spasticity by BoNT-A injection might increase efficiency of motor learning with continuous movement of the affected upper-limb.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of RFE and BoNT-A for spastic paresis might be more effective than RFE alone to improve upper-limb motor function and to lessen impairment in chronic stroke.

Task-based mirror therapy enhances the upper limb motor function in subacute stroke patients: a randomized control trial

BACKGROUND

The improvement of the upper limb disability, which is mainly caused by stroke, is still one of the rehabilitation treatment challenges. However, the effectiveness of task-based mirror therapy (TBMT) on subacute stroke with moderate and severe upper limb impairment has not been deeply explored.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of TBMT, in comparison to occupational therapy, in moderate and severe upper limb impairment by analyzing the motor function and activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Rehabilitative inpatient unit.

POPULATION

Thirty patients with moderate and severe-subacute stroke recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University have been randomly divided into two groups; the task-based mirror therapy group (N.=15) and the control group (N.=15).

METHODS

The first group received TBMT while the control group only underwent only occupational therapy without a mirror utilization. Taking into consideration that both groups received conventional therapy. The intervention time was equal for both groups consisting of 25 minutes per day for 25 days. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Brunnstrom Assessment (BRS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were used to assess the outcomes for this study.

RESULTS

After 25 sessions of treatment, the patients in both groups have shown-improvement in the activates of daily living, motor recovery, and motor function. No significant differences between the two groups were observed on BRS and MBI. However, interestingly, the results of the TBMT group were significantly better than the control group in FMA (P<0.05) and certain aspects of MAS (elbow flexion, wrist flexion, wrist extension, and fingers extension with P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the combination of conventional rehabilitation treatment and TBMT is an effective way to improve the functional recovery in the upper limb stroke patients.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

TBMT is a therapeutic technique that can be used in subacute stroke patients with moderate and severe upper limb impairment.