Motor Status Scale Research Articles

Motor Imagery-Based Brain-Computer Interface Combined with Multimodal Feedback to Promote Upper Limb Motor Function after Stroke: A Preliminary Study.

Background Recently, the brain-computer interface (BCI) has seen rapid development, which may promote the recovery of motor function in chronic stroke patients. Methods Twelve stroke patients with severe upper limb and hand motor impairment were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups: motor imagery (MI)-based BCI training with multimodal feedback (BCI group, n = 7) and classical motor imagery training (control group, n = 5). Motor function and electrophysiology were evaluated before and after the intervention. The Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) is the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures include an increase in wrist active extension or surface electromyography (the amplitude and cocontraction of extensor carpi radialis during movement), the action research arm test (ARAT), the motor status scale (MSS), and Barthel index (BI). Time-frequency analysis and power spectral analysis were used to reflect the electroencephalogram (EEG) change before and after the intervention. Results Compared with the baseline, the FMA-UE score increased significantly in the BCI group (p = 0.006). MSS scores improved significantly in both groups, while ARAT did not improve significantly. In addition, before the intervention, all patients could not actively extend their wrists or just had muscle contractions. After the intervention, four patients regained the ability to extend their paretic wrists (two in each group). The amplitude and area under the curve of extensor carpi radialis improved to some extent, but there was no statistical significance between the groups. Conclusion MI-based BCI combined with sensory and visual feedback might improve severe upper limb and hand impairment in chronic stroke patients, showing the potential for application in rehabilitation medicine.

Electromyographic bridge for promoting the recovery of hand movements in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial

The electromyographic bridge (EMGB) detects surface electromyographic signals from a non-paretic limb. It then generates electric pulse trains according to the electromyographic time domain features, which can be used to stimulate a paralysed or paretic limb in real time. This strategy can be used for the contralateral control of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to improve motor function after stroke. The aim of this study was to compare the treat-ment effects of EMGB vs cyclic NMES on wrist and finger impairments in subacute stroke patients. A total of 42 hemiplegic patients within 6 months of their cerebrovascular accidents were randomly assigned to 4-week treatments with EMGB or cyclic NMES. Each group underwent a standard rehabilitation programme and 10 sessions per week of hand training with EMGB or cyclic NMES. Outcome measures were: Brunnstrom stage, upper extremity components of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Status Scale, voluntary surface electromyographic ratio and active range of motion of the wrist and finger joints. The EMGB group showed significantly greater improvements than the cyclic NMES group on the following measures: Brunnstrom stages for the hand, upper extremity - Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Status Scale, and the voluntary surface electromyographic ratio of wrist and finger extensors. Eleven and 4 participants of the EMGB group who had no active wrist and finger movements, respectively, at the start of the treatment could perform measurable wrist and finger extensions after EMGB training. The corresponding numbers in the cyclic NMES group were only 4 and 1. In the present group of subacute stroke patients, the results favour EMGB over cyclic NMES for augmenting the recovery of volitional wrist and finger motion.

Kinematic measures for upper limb motor assessment during robot-mediated training in patients with severe sub-acute stroke.

Kinematic assessments are increasingly used as motor outcome measures during upper limb robot-assisted training, in addition to clinical scales. However, their relevance has not been evaluated much. Thirty-eight patients with severe sub-acute stroke (age 56 ± 17 [19-87] years; time since stroke, 55 ± 22 days) carried out 16 sessions (average 3/week, 35 ± 15 days) of upper limb robot-assisted training combined with standard therapy. Pre/post motor performance was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, Motor Status Scale (MSS) and kinematic measures. Motor outcomes were compared and relationships between clinical and kinematic outcomes were analyzed. All clinical and kinematic outcomes improved after training (p < 0.01). FM score increased from 17.7 ± 10.0 to 28.6 ± 15.4. All baseline kinematic measures were strongly correlated with clinical scores. Correlations between clinical and kinematic changes were moderate (r = -0.65 for change in FM Proximal score and change in accuracy measure). However, smoothness and accuracy indicators were shown to be responsive measures. This study demonstrated that baseline kinematic measures and their pre/post training changes were significantly correlated with clinical motor outcome measures. However, even if kinematic measures are valid for the evaluation of motor impairment we cannot propose to substitute common clinical measures of motor function which also evaluate functional abilities of the upper limb.

Gender and stroke lateralization: Factors of functional recovery after the first-ever unilateral stroke?

The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate gender differences in rehabilitation outcome in patients after the first-ever unilateral stroke. A total of eighty right-handed patients were prospectively enrolled, 35 (44%) women, and 45 (56%) men. A degree of neurological deficit was quantified by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Functional outcome was assessed by the Motor Status Scale, Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory, Rivermead Mobility Index and Barthel Index. At the time of hospital admission there was no significant gender difference in clinical stroke severity. At discharge, we registered significantly better motor and functional recovery in men compared to women. Further, we found significantly better rehabilitation outcome in women with stroke in dominant left hemisphere (LH) than in women with stroke in subdominant right hemisphere (RH). Conversely, men with stroke in subdominant RH had significantly better rehabilitation outcome than men with stroke in dominant LH. Using a multivariate analysis we have found that men with stroke in RH had significantly higher probability to reach not only high response in mobility, but also more autonomy in ADL. The frequency of stroke in LH was significantly higher in both genders aged less than 51 years, as well as in women, while the frequency of stroke in RH was significantly higher in men. This paper places particular emphasis on substantial gender-based differences in functional recovery of patients with their first-ever unilateral stroke.

Effects of robot-assisted therapy on stroke rehabilitation in upper limbs: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

We systematically reviewed and analyzed the literature to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that employed robotic devices in upper-limb rehabilitation of people with stroke. Out of 574 studies, 12 matching the selection criteria were found. The Fugl-Meyer, Functional Independence Measure, Motor Power Scale, and Motor Status Scale outcome measures from the selected RCTs were pooled together, and the corresponding effect sizes were estimated. We found that when the duration/intensity of conventional therapy (CT) is matched with that of the robot-assisted therapy (RT), no difference exists between the intensive CT and RT groups in terms of motor recovery, activities of daily living, strength, and motor control. However, depending on the stage of recovery, extra sessions of RT in addition to regular CT are more beneficial than regular CT alone in motor recovery of the hemiparetic shoulder and elbow of patients with stroke; gains are similar to those that have been observed in intensive CT.

The responsiveness and correlation between Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motor Status Scale, and the Action Research Arm Test in chronic stroke with upper-extremity rehabilitation robotic training

Responsiveness of clinical assessments is an important element in the report of clinical effectiveness after rehabilitation. The correlation could reflect the validity of assessments as an indication of clinical performance before and after interventions. This study investigated the correlation and responsiveness of Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Motor Status Scale (MSS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), which are used frequently in effectiveness studies of robotic upper-extremity training in stroke rehabilitation. Twenty-seven chronic stroke patients were recruited for a 20-session upper-extremity rehabilitation robotic training program. This was a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial. All participants were evaluated with FMA, MSS, ARAT, MAS, and Functional Independent Measure before and after robotic training. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied for the analysis of correlation. The standardized response mean (SRM) and Guyatt's responsiveness index (GRI) were used to analyze responsiveness. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a significantly high correlation (ρ=0.91-0.96) among FMA, MSS, and ARAT and a fair-to-moderate correlation (ρ=0.40-0.62) between MAS and the other assessments. FMA, MSS, and MAS on the wrist showed higher responsiveness (SRM=0.85-0.98, GRI=1.59-3.62), whereas ARAT showed relatively less responsiveness (SRM=0.22, GRI=0.81). The results showed that FMA or MSS would be the best choice for evaluating the functional improvement in stroke studies on robotic upper-extremity training with high responsiveness and good correlation with ARAT. MAS could be used separately to evaluate the spasticity changes after intervention in terms of high responsiveness.

Comparison of Bilateral and Unilateral Training for Upper Extremity Hemiparesis in Stroke

Background. Upper extremity hemiparesis is the most common poststroke disability. Longitudinal studies have indicated that 30% to 66% of stroke survivors do not have full arm function 6 months poststroke. One promising treatment approach is bilateral training. To date, no randomized, blinded study of efficacy comparing 2 groups (bilateral training vs unilateral training) using analogous tasks has been performed in chronic stroke survivors with moderate upper extremity impairment. Objective. To compare the effectiveness of bilateral training with unilateral training for individuals with moderate upper limb hemiparesis. The authors hypothesized that bilateral training would be superior to unilateral training in the proximal extremity but not the distal one. Methods. Twenty-four subjects participated in a randomized, single-blind training study. Subjects in the bilateral group (n = 12) practiced bilateral symmetrical activities, whereas the unilateral group (n = 12) performed the same activity with the affected arm only. The activities consisted of reaching-based tasks that were both rhythmic and discrete. The Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Motor Status Scale (MSS), and muscle strength were used as outcome measures. Assessments were administered at baseline and posttraining by a rater blinded to group assignment. Results. Both groups had significant improvements on the MSS and measures of strength. The bilateral group had significantly greater improvement on the Upper Arm Function scale (a subscale of the MAS-Upper Limb Items). Conclusion. Both bilateral and unilateral training are efficacious for moderately impaired chronic stroke survivors. Bilateral training may be more advantageous for proximal arm function.

A pilot study of activity-based therapy in the arm motor recovery post stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To determine the efficacy of activity-based therapies using arm ergometer or robotic or group occupational therapy for motor recovery of the paretic arm in patients with an acute stroke (≤4 weeks) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility, and to obtain information to plan a large randomized controlled trial. Design: Prospective, randomized controlled study. Setting: Stroke unit in a rehabilitation hospital. Subjects: Thirty patients with an acute stroke (≤4 weeks) who had arm weakness (Medical Research Council grade 2 or less at the shoulder joint). Intervention: Occupational therapy (OT) group (control) (n = 10), arm ergometer (n = 10) or robotic (n = 10) therapy group. All patients received standard, inpatient, post-stroke rehabilitation training for 3 hours a day, plus 12 additional 40-minute sessions of the activity-based therapy. Main measures: The primary outcome measures were discharge scores in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for upper limb impairment, Motor Status Scale, total Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and FIM-motor and FIM-cognition subscores. Results: The three groups (OT group versus arm ergometer versus robotic) were comparable on clinical demographic measures except the robotic group was significantly older and there were more haemorrhagic stroke patients in the arm ergometer group. After adjusting for age, stroke type and outcome measures at baseline, a similar degree of improvement in the discharge scores was found in all of the primary outcome measures. Conclusion: This study suggests that activity-based therapies using an arm ergometer or robot when used over shortened training periods have the same effect as OT group therapy in decreasing impairment and improving disability in the paretic arm of severely affected stroke patients in the subacute phase.

Assistive Control System Using Continuous Myoelectric Signal in Robot-Aided Arm Training for Patients After Stroke

In some stroke rehabilitation programs, robotic systems have been used to aid the patient to train. In this study, a myoelectrically controlled robotic system with 1 degree-of-freedom was developed to assist elbow training in a horizontal plane with intention involvement for people after stroke. The system could provide continuous assistance in extension torque, which was proportional to the amplitude of the subject's electromyographic (EMG) signal from the triceps, and could provide resistive torques during movement. This study investigated the system's effect on restoring the upper limb functions of eight subjects after chronic stroke in a twenty-session rehabilitation training program. In each session, there were 18 trials comprising different combinations of assistive and resistive torques and an evaluation trial. Each trial consisted of five cycles of repetitive elbow flexion and extension between 90 degrees and 0 degrees at a constant velocity of 10 degrees/s. With the assistive extension torque, subjects could reach a more extended position in the first session. After 20 sessions of training, there were statistically significant improvements in the modified Ashworth scale, Fugl-Meyer scale for shoulder and elbow, motor status scale, elbow extension range, muscle strength, and root mean square error between actual elbow angle and target angle. The results showed that the twenty-session training program improved upper limb functions.

Variation of Muscle Coactivation Patterns in Chronic Stroke During Robot-Assisted Elbow Training

Hu X, Tong KY, Song R, Tsang VS, Leung PO, Li L. Variation of muscle coactivation patterns in chronic stroke during robot-assisted elbow training. Objective To investigate the variation of muscle coactivation patterns during the course of robot-assisted rehabilitation on elbow flexion and extension for chronic stroke. Design A detailed electromyographic analysis was conducted on muscle activation levels and muscle coactivation patterns, represented by a cocontraction index of a muscle pair, for the muscles of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, and posterior deltoid, during training of elbow extension and flexion, actively assisted by a robot, from 0° to 90° by tracking a target moving at a speed of 10°/s on the screen. Setting Rehabilitation center research laboratory. Participants Seven hemiplegic chronic stroke patients received elbow training. Interventions Each subject received 20 sessions (1.5 hours/session) of the elbow training on his/her paretic side at an intensity of 3 to 5 times a week for a training period of 7 consecutive weeks. Main Outcome Measures Muscle cocontraction index, muscle activation level, and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Motor Status Scale (MSS) scores. Results The electromyographic activation levels of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and anterior deltoid of each subject decreased during the training. The overall electromyographic activation levels of the biceps and triceps, which, summarizing the performance of all subjects, decreased significantly in the middle sessions (from the 8th to 12th sessions) of the training ( P<.05), associated with the significant decrease ( P<.05) in the MAS score. The overall electromyographic activation level of the anterior deltoid also decreased significantly from the 8th to 20th sessions ( P<.05). Significant decreases in the cocontractions of all muscle pairs were observed in all subjects and also in the overall cocontraction index ( P<.05). The cocontraction between the biceps and triceps significantly decreased when the overall electromyographic levels of the 2 muscles were stable from the 10th to 20th sessions ( P<.05). Significant improvements ( P<.05) on the FMA and MSS score were also found by the pre- and postassessments. Conclusions In the 20-session robot-assisted training, the excessive muscle activations reduced mainly in the first half of the training course, which could be related to the learning process of the tracking skill and also to the reduction in muscle spasticity. The muscle coordination for achieving elbow tracking improved significantly in the latter sessions of the training, represented as decreased cocontraction indexes between the muscle pairs.

Continuous passive motion improves shoulder joint integrity following stroke

In a pilot study of patients with a first stroke and hemiparesis, we sought to determine whether treatment of the upper limb with continuous passive motion (CPM) that was device delivered would alter impairment, disability or the associated adverse symptoms of shoulder joint instability, pain and tone. Patients were randomly assigned to receive daily CPM treatments or participate in self-range of motion groups under the supervision of an occupational therapist. All patients received standard daily poststroke therapy for 3.5 h per day. A blinded evaluator at admission and discharge assessed patients using standardized scales of impairment, disability and adverse symptoms. Specialized stroke unit of an acute rehabilitation hospital. Two hundred and eighty consecutive patients were screened and 35 of these with a first unilateral stroke, 13 +/- 6 days following the acute event, provided informed consent and were randomly assigned to CPM treatment or supervised group self-range exercise. Thirty-two completed the study and were evaluated using standardized measures for motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer, Motor Status Scale and Medical Research Council Motor Power), adverse symptoms (gleno-humeral stability, pain and tone), and disability (Functional Independence Measure). CPM-treated patients demonstrated positive trends towards improved shoulder joint stability (p = 0.06, confidence interval -0.03, 2.3) when compared with patients performing therapist-supervised self-range of motion. There were no significant differences in motor impairment, disability, pain or tone. Device-delivered continuous passive range of motion may offer an enhanced benefit for some adverse symptom reduction in the hemiplegic arm after stroke over traditional self-range of motion exercise.

Robotic therapy for chronic motor impairments after stroke: follow-up results

Fasoli SE, Krebs HI, Stein J, Frontera WR, Hughes R, Hogan N. Robotic therapy for chronic motor impairments after stroke: follow-up results. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1106-11. Objectives To study the effects of robotic rehabilitation in persons with chronic motor impairments after stroke and to examine whether improvements in motor abilities were sustained 4 months after the end of therapy. Design Pretest-posttest design. Setting Rehabilitation hospital, outpatient care. Participants Volunteer sample of 42 persons with persistent hemiparesis from a single, unilateral stroke within the past 1 to 5 years. Intervention Robotic therapy for the paretic upper limb consisted of either sensorimotor active-assistive exercise, or progressive-resistive training during repetitive, planar reaching tasks, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Main outcome measures Modified Ashworth Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Motor Status Scale (MSS) score, and Medical Research Council motor power score. Results No significant differences were found among pretreatment clinical evaluations. Statistically significant gains from admission to discharge and from admission to follow-up ( P<.05) were found on the FMA, MSS score for shoulder and elbow, and motor power score. Conclusions Short-term, goal-directed robotic therapy can significantly improve motor abilities of the exercised limb segments in persons with chronic stroke that are sustained 4 months after discharge. This suggests that motor recovery can be enhanced by repetitive exercise training more than 1 year after stroke.

Effects of robotic therapy on motor impairment and recovery in chronic stroke

Fasoli SE, Krebs HI, Stein J, Frontera WR, Hogan N. Effects of robotic therapy on motor impairment and recovery in chronic stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:477-82. Objective: To examine whether robotic therapy can reduce motor impairment and enhance recovery of the hemiparetic arm in persons with chronic stroke. Design: Pre-posttest design. Setting: Rehabilitation hospital, outpatient care. Participants: Volunteer sample of 20 persons diagnosed with a single, unilateral stroke within the past 1 to 5 years, with persistent hemiparesis. Interventions: Robotic therapy was provided 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. Subjects able to reach robot targets were randomly assigned to sensorimotor or progressive-resistive robotic therapy groups. Robotic therapy consisted of goal-directed, planar reaching tasks to exercise the hemiparetic shoulder and elbow. Main Outcome Measures: The Modified Ashworth Scale, Fugl-Meyer test of upper-extremity function, Motor Status Scale (MSS) score, and Medical Research Council motor power score. Results: Evaluations by a single blinded therapist revealed statistically significant gains from admission to discharge ( P[lt].05) on the Fugl-Meyer test, MSS score, and motor power score. Secondary analyses revealed group differences: the progressive-resistive therapy group experienced nonspecific improvements on wrist and hand MSS scores that were not observed in the sensorimotor group. Conclusions: Robotic therapy may complement other treatment approaches by reducing motor impairment in persons with moderate to severe chronic impairments.

Assessing the Motor Status Score: A Scale for the Evaluation of Upper Limb Motor Outcomes in Patients after Stroke

The Motor Status Scale (MSS) measures shoulder, elbow (maximum score = 40), wrist, hand, and finger movements (maximum score = 42), and expands the measurement of upper extremity impairment and disability provided by the Fugl-Meyer (FM) score. This work examines the interrater reliability and criterion validity of the MSS performed in patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital 21 ± 4 days after stroke. Using the MSS and the FM, 7 occupational therapists masked to each other’s judgments, evaluated 12 consecutive patients with stroke. Two therapists evaluated 6 additional patients on consecutive days. Intraclass correlation coefficients were significant for each group of raters for the shoulder/elbow and for the wrist/hand (P < 0.0001); test-retest measures were also significant for the shoulder/elbow (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.99, P < 0.004) and for the wrist/hand (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.99, P < 0.003). The internal item consistency for the overall MSS was significant (Cronbach alpha = 0.98, P < 0.0001). Finally the correlation between the MSS and the FM (R 2 = 0.964) was significant (P < 0.0001). The MSS affords a reliable and valid assessment of upper limb impairment and disability following stroke.

Cardiac beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity and Parkinson's disease.

Certain clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) (speech or/and balance disturbances) are not linked to brain dopamine deficiency. The purpose of the present study was to search for a possible relationship between those so-called "non-dopamine-dependent" extrapyramidal manifestations and the sensitivity of cardiac beta-adrenoceptors. Fourteen patients aged 51 to 69 were included in the study after having given their informed consent. Any factor or pathology susceptible to modify receptor sensitivity entailed exclusion. In the absence of a reference model for measuring the reactivity of central beta-adrenoceptors, a computation of the isoprenalin dose necessary to increase the resting heart rate by 20 bpm was used as an index for beta-adrenergic system reactivity. In addition to that test, other parameters were recorded: disease duration, motor status scale (Columbia), some cognitive functions (MMS and image differed recall). The cardiac beta-receptor decrease in reactivity to isoproterenol is correlated to PD duration (r = 0.8, P less than 0.001). Conversely, the sensitivity of these receptors appeared to be unrelated to the extrapyramidal severity of the disease, hence to the degree of the so-called "non dopamine-dependent" disturbances. Furthermore, such results raise the meaning of the impairment of peripheral aminergic receptors in the cognitive disturbances linked to ageing and/or PD.