Biomechanical Assessment of Reaching Movements in Post-Stroke Patients During a Robot-Aided Rehabilitation

S Mazzoleni,M C Carrozza,P Dario,F Posteraro,S Micera,M Filippi,F Forte

doi:10.1155/2011/298926

S Mazzoleni, M C Carrozza + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/298926

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Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to describe a method for the assessment of the motor performance in post-stroke subjects who have been undergone a robot-aided upper limb rehabilitation treatment. The motivation for adopting such methodology relies on the need of quantitative methods for the evaluation of the effects of robot-aided rehabilitation treatments, which assumes great importance from the clinical point of view. The method is based on the analysis of biomechanical parameters computed from force data recorded during the execution of planar reaching movements. Data from 17 chronic post-stroke patients and 5 healthy subjects were analysed. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed method, which can contribute to quantitatively evaluate the effects of a robot-mediated therapy on the upper limb of chronic post-stroke subjects.

Highlights

After acute brain lesion, training has the potential to drive brain reorganization and to optimize functional performance [4, 28]
The main goal of this study is to present a quantitative method based on biomechanical parameters for the assessment of the motor performance of post-stroke subjects who have been undergone a robot-aided upper limb rehabilitation treatment
The robot-aided therapy was well accepted and tolerated by the patients. This type of training contributed to increase the motivation of the patients during the rehabilitation period

Summary

Introduction

After acute brain lesion, training has the potential to drive brain reorganization and to optimize functional performance [4, 28]. Optimal recovery of the upper limb function is essential for stroke patients to independently perform activities of daily living (ADL). Motor learning mechanisms are operative during the spontaneous stroke recovery and interact with rehabilitative training [13]. Different robotic systems that can support movement therapy of the upper extremities in subjects with neurological pathologies were recently developed [26]. They can provide a safe and intensive motor therapy which can be highly accurate, intensive and prolonged.

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