Development of Activity-Related Muscle Fatigue during Robot-Mediated Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Trial.

Johanna Renny Octavia,Karin Coninx,Peter Feys

doi:10.1155/2015/650431

Johanna Renny Octavia, Karin Coninx + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/650431

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Abstract

Robot-assisted rehabilitation facilitates high-intensity training of the impaired upper limb in neurological rehabilitation. It has been clinically observed that persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have difficulties in sustaining the training intensity during a session due to the development of activity-related muscle fatigue. An experimental observational pilot study was conducted to examine whether or not the muscle fatigue develops in MS patients during one session of robot-assisted training within a virtual learning environment. Six MS patients with upper limb impairment (motricity index ranging from 50 to 91/100) and six healthy persons completed five training bouts of three minutes each performing lifting tasks, while EMG signals of anterior deltoid and lower trapezius muscles were measured and their subjective perceptions on muscle fatigue were registered. Decreased performance and higher subjective fatigue perception were present in the MS group. Increased mean EMG amplitudes and subjective perception levels on muscle fatigue were observed in both groups. Muscle fatigue development during 15′ training has been demonstrated in the arm of MS patients, which influences the sustainability of training intensity in MS patients. To optimize the training performance, adaptivity based on the detection of MS patient's muscle fatigue could be provided by means of training program adjustment.

Highlights

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disease while to date, no medicine has been found to cure people suffering from MS yet
Muscle fatigue development during 15󸀠 training has been demonstrated in the arm of MS patients, which influences the sustainability of training intensity in MS patients
The present study aims to investigate the development of muscle fatigue in MS patients during a session of robotmediated upper limb rehabilitation training

Summary

Introduction

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disease while to date, no medicine has been found to cure people suffering from MS yet. The aim of therapy and rehabilitation for MS patients is to maintain and even improve their functional mobility by reducing disuse and dependency and improve quality of life. Performing physical training is often part of therapy and rehabilitation for MS patients [2]. A number of studies have shown beneficial effects of physical training in MS regarding muscle strength, exercise tolerance, functional mobility (i.e., walking), and quality of life, while no harmful effects were reported [3,4,5,6]. In a conventional rehabilitation training session with a therapist, only a limited time is dedicated to upper limb training given the presence of a multiplicity of other disabling symptoms in the advanced stage of MS. Traditional rehabilitation methods may have the potential to improve upper limb function [8], it is considered that additional therapeutic modalities are necessary to enable MS

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