Effects of a Brain-Computer Interface-Operated Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot on Motor Function Recovery in Patients with Stroke.

Chao Li,Jinyu Wei,Qiang Duan,Tingting Zhang,Xiaoqun Huang,Deepak Kumar Jain

doi:10.1155/2021/4710044

Abstract

Purpose To observe the effect of a brain-computer interface-operated lower limb rehabilitation robot (BCI-LLRR) on functional recovery from stroke and to explore mechanisms. Methods Subacute-phase stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups. In addition to the routine intervention, patients in the treatment group trained on the BCI-LLRR and underwent the lower limb pedal training in the control group, both for the same time (30 min/day). All patients underwent assessment by instruments such as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Fugl–Meyer upper and lower limb motor function and balance tests, at 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at 3 months after the end of treatment. Patients were also tested before treatment and after 4 weeks by leg motor evoked potential (MEP) and diffusion tensor imaging/tractography (DTI/DTT) of the head. Results After 4 weeks, the Fugl–Meyer leg function and NIHSS scores were significantly improved in the treatment group vs. controls (P < 0.01). At 3 months, further significant improvement was observed. The MEP amplitude and latency of the treatment group were significantly improved vs. controls. The effect of treatment on fractional anisotropy values was not significant. Conclusions The BCI-LLRR promoted leg functional recovery after stroke and improved activities of daily living, possibly by improving cerebral-cortex excitability and white matter connectivity.

Highlights

To observe the effect of a brain-computer interface-operated lower limb rehabilitation robot (BCI-LLRR) on functional recovery from stroke and to explore mechanisms
Compared with the control group, the Fugl–Meyer scores were significantly improved in the treatment group after 2 weeks (P < 0.05) (Figure 2(b)) and 4 weeks (P < 0.01). e National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were significantly improved in the treatment group after 4 weeks (P < 0.01) (Figures 2(a) and 2(b))
After 4 weeks of treatment, the values of the motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and latency were significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05), and latency was very significantly improved in the treatment group vs. control (Figure 4(a))

Summary

Introduction

To observe the effect of a brain-computer interface-operated lower limb rehabilitation robot (BCI-LLRR) on functional recovery from stroke and to explore mechanisms. After 4 weeks, the Fugl–Meyer leg function and NIHSS scores were significantly improved in the treatment group vs controls (P < 0.01). With the development of multidisciplinary techniques such as neuroscience, signal detection, pattern recognition, and external assistive technologies (e.g., lower limb rehabilitation robots and brain-computer interfaces), the progress study of leg motion control and walking function after central nervous system injury has been ascensively made and become a research hotspot in recent years [1]. In a previous research project, we constructed a brain-based, active-passive, and stimulating lower limb rehabilitation robot operated and clinically observed the functional recovery of patient, users with stroke. We report further on the clinical application of our system in patients with stroke

Methods

Results

Conclusion