Upper-extremity Rehabilitation Research Articles

The influence of scaffolding on intrinsic motivation and autonomous adherence to a game-based, unsupervised home rehabilitation program for people with upper extremity hemiparesis due to stroke. A randomized controlled trial.

This parallel, randomized controlled trial examines intrinsic motivation, adherence and motor function improvement demonstrated by two groups of subjects that performed a twelve-week, home-based upper extremity rehabilitation program. Seventeen subjects played games presenting eight to twelve discrete levels of increasing difficulty. Sixteen subjects performed the same activities controlled by success algorithms that modify game difficulty incrementally. 33 persons 20 to 80 years of age, at least six months post stroke with moderate to mild hemiparesis were randomized using a random number generator into the two groups. They were tested using the Action Research Arm Test, Upper Extremity Fugl Meyer Assessment, Stroke Impact Scale and Intrinsic Motivation Inventory pre and post training. Adherence was measured using timestamps generated by the system. Subjects had the Home Virtual Rehabilitation System [1]systems placed in their homes and were taught to perform rehabilitation games using it. Subjects were instructed to train twenty minutes per day but were allowed to train as much as they chose. Subjects trained for twelve weeks without appointments and received intermittent support from study staff. Group outcomes were compared using ANOVA. Correlations between subject demographics and adherence, as well as motor outcome, were evaluated using Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) models were generated to predict responders using demographics and baseline measures. There were 5 dropouts and no adverse events. The main effect of time was statistically significant for four of the five clinical outcome measures. There were no significant training group by time interactions. Measures of adherence did not differ between groups. 21 subjects from both groups, demonstrated clinically important improvements in UEFMA score of at least 4.25 points. Subjects with pre training UEFMA scores below 53.5 averaged a seven-point UEFMA increase. IMI scores were stable pre to post training. Scaffolding did not have a meaningful impact on adherence or motor function improvement. A sparsely supervised program of game-based treatment in the home was sufficient to elicit meaningful improvements in motor function and activities of daily living. Common factors considered barriers to the utilization of telerehabilitation did not impact adherence or motor outcome. Clinical Trials.gov - NCT03985761, Registered June 14, 2019.

Effects of robot-assisted upper limb training combined with functional electrical stimulation in stroke patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionAbout 17–80% stroke survivors experience the deficit of upper limb function, which strongly influences their independence and quality of life. Robot-assisted training and functional electrical stimulation are commonly used interventions in the rehabilitation of hemiplegia upper extremities, while the effect of their combination remains unclear. The aim of this trial is to explore the effect of robot-assisted upper limb training combined with functional electrical stimulation, in terms of neuromuscular rehabilitation, compared with robot-assisted upper limb training alone.MethodsIndividuals (n = 60) with the first onset of stroke (more than 1 week and less than 1 year after stroke onset) will be considered in the recruitment of this single-blinded, three-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants will be allocated into three groups (robot-assisted training combined with functional electrical stimulation group, robot-assisted training group, and conventional rehabilitation therapies group) with a ratio of 1:1:1. All interventions will be executed for 45 min per session, one session per day, 5 sessions per week for 6 weeks. The neuromuscular function of the upper limb (Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper extremity), ability of daily life (modified Barthel Index), pain (visual analogue scale), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) will be assessed at the baseline, at the end of this trial and after 3 months follow-up. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance will be used to compare the outcomes if the data are normally distributed. Simple effects tests will be used for the further exploration of interaction effects by time and group. Scheirer-Ray-Hare test will be used if the data are not satisfied with normal distribution.DiscussionWe expect this three-arm randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness of robot-assisted training combined with functional electrical stimulation in improving post-stroke upper limb function compared with robot-assisted training alone.Trial registrationEffect of upper limb robot on improving upper limb function after stroke, identifier: ChiCTR2300073279. Registered on 5 July 2023.

Optimizing shoulder elevation assist rate in exoskeletal rehabilitation based on muscular activity indices: a clinical feasibility study

BackgroundRestoring shoulder function is critical for upper-extremity rehabilitation following a stroke. The complex musculoskeletal anatomy of the shoulder presents a challenge for safely assisting elevation movements through robotic interventions. The level of shoulder elevation assistance in rehabilitation is often based on clinical judgment. There is no standardized method for deriving an optimal level of assistance, underscoring the importance of addressing abnormal movements during shoulder elevation, such as abnormal synergies and compensatory actions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a newly developed shoulder elevation exoskeleton robot by applying a novel optimization technique derived from the muscle synergy index.MethodsTwelve chronic stroke participants underwent an intervention consisting of 100 robot-assisted shoulder elevation exercises (10 × 10 times, approximately 40 min) for 10 days (4–5 times/week). The optimal robot assist rate was derived by detecting the change points using the co-contraction index, calculated from electromyogram (EMG) data obtained from the anterior deltoid and biceps brachii muscles during shoulder elevation at the initial evaluation. The primary outcomes were the Fugl–Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) shoulder/elbow/forearm score, kinematic outcomes (maximum angle of voluntary shoulder flexion and elbow flexion ratio during shoulder elevation), and shoulder pain outcomes (pain-free passive shoulder flexion range of motion [ROM] and visual analogue scale for pain severity during shoulder flexion). The effectiveness and safety of robotic therapy were examined using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test.ResultsAll 12 patients completed the procedure without any adverse events. Two participants were excluded from the analysis because the EMG of the biceps brachii was not obtained. Ten participants (five men and five women; mean age: 57.0 [5.5] years; mean FMA-UE total score: 18.7 [10.5] points) showed significant improvement in the FMA-UE shoulder/elbow/forearm score, kinematic outcomes, and pain-free passive shoulder flexion ROM (P < 0.05). The shoulder pain outcomes remained unchanged or improved in all patients.ConclusionsThe study presents a method for deriving the optimal robotic assist rate. Rehabilitation using a shoulder robot based on this derived optimal assist rate showed the possibility of safely improving the upper-extremity function in patients with severe stroke in the chronic phase.

Distal Versus Proximal Arm Improvement After Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy After Chronic Stroke

ObjectiveTo evaluate differences in upper-extremity (UE) segment-specific (proximal or distal segment) recovery after vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with UE rehabilitation (Paired-VNS) compared with rehabilitation with sham-VNS (Control). We also assessed whether gains in specific UE segments predicted clinically meaningful improvement. DesignThis study reports on a secondary analysis of Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for UE motor function after chronic ischemic stroke (VNS-REHAB), a randomized, triple-blinded, sham-controlled pivotal trial. A Rasch latent regression was used to determine differences between Paired-VNS and Controls for distal and proximal UE changes after in-clinic therapy and 3 months later. Subsequently, we ran a random forest model to assess candidate predictors of meaningful improvement. Each item of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) was evaluated as a predictor of response to treatment. SettingNineteen stroke rehabilitation centers in the USA and UK. ParticipantsDataset included 108 participants (N=108) with chronic ischemic stroke and moderate-to-severe UE impairments. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresFMA-UE and WMFT. ResultsDistal UE improvement was significantly greater in the Paired-VNS group than in Controls immediately after therapy (95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.73; P≤.001) and after 3 months (95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.75; P=.003). Both groups showed similar improvement in proximal UE at both time points. A subset of both distal and proximal items from the FMA-UE and WMFT were predictors of meaningful improvement. ConclusionsPaired-VNS improved distal UE impairment in chronic stroke to a greater degree than intensive rehabilitation alone. Proximal improvements were equally responsive to either treatment. Given that meaningful UE recovery is predicted by improvements across both proximal and distal segments, Paired-VNS may facilitate improvement that is otherwise elusive.

The Human–Machine Interaction Methods and Strategies for Upper and Lower Extremity Rehabilitation Robots: A Review

The Human–Machine Interaction Methods and Strategies for Upper and Lower Extremity Rehabilitation Robots: A Review

Feasibility of exergaming for upper extremity rehabilitation in people with multiple sclerosis: prospective clinical trial.

Exergaming has been suggested as a rehabilitation method since it is more motivational for people with multiple sclerosis (MS, pwMS). However, the major disadvantage of this method is the lack of specific scenarios designed for pwMS. This study aims to assess the feasibility of exergaming, which was developed for pwMS. This unblinded prospective clinical trial was performed in the outpatient MS Clinic of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital. Exergaming scenarios were developed in collaboration with medical personnel consisting of physiotherapists and doctors, and computer engineers. A total of 30 participants who had definite MS diagnoses were included. The exergaming scenarios were implemented using the Microsoft Kinect. A physiotherapist applied custom-made exergames for one session. All the participants were assessed immediately after the session. The User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire was used to assess the user's satisfaction with the system and exergaming. The mean age was 41.5, the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale was 4.5 (range between 0 and 7), and the mean disease duration was 10.0years. Twenty patients were relapsing-remitting, and 10 were secondary-progressive. The mean scores of the User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire were 4.33 (SD = 0.84) for helpfulness for rehabilitation, 1.63 (SD = 1.1) for not disturbing, 4.50 (SD = 1.07) for understandability, 4.0 (SD = 0.91) for easiness to control, and 4.33 (SD = 0.84) for enjoyability. These results showed that our custom-made exergaming scenario could be feasible in upper extremity rehabilitation in MS. More research is needed to investigate its effectiveness in the rehabilitation of upper limbs.

The Validity and Reliability of a Smartphone Application for Measuring Wrist and Metacarpophalangeal Joint Motion.

Background Accurate measurement of the range of motion (ROM) is crucial for guiding upper extremity rehabilitation. Inaccurate measurements can mislead clinicians and harm patient compliance. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of a smartphone application (Angulus) for measuring wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint ROM. Methodology This study included 64 volunteers with no prior wrist injuries. Thewrist flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation, and MCP joint flexion/extension ROM were assessed by an experienced physiotherapist (Assessor 1) using the Angulus and a standard two-arm goniometer. The validity of Angulus was evaluated by correlating it with the goniometer measurements using the Pearson correlation coefficient. For the reliability analysis, an inexperienced biomedical engineer (Assessor 2) performed the same measurements using Angulus twice in different sessions, in addition to Assessor 1. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results The mean age of the participants was 29.5 ± 8.2 years, with 62% being female. The validity of the Angulus app measurements was indicated by the adequate to excellent correlation between the Angulus and goniometer measurements (ranging from 0.44 to 0.81). The intra-rater reliability of the Angulus app was excellent for Assessor 1 (ranging from 0.76 to 0.90) and adequate to excellent for Assessor 2 (ranging from 0.71 to 0.88). The inter-rater reliability of Angulus was excellent (ranging from 0.91 to 0.96). Conclusions Angulus is a valid and reliable method to measurethe wrist and MCP joint ROM.

A Convergent Mixed Methods Design to Assess the Use of the Home Virtual Rehabilitation System By Persons with Chronic Stroke.

Purpose: Patients poststroke utilized the Home Virtual Rehabilitation System (HoVRS) to perform home-based, gamified upper extremity rehabilitation over 12 weeks. Outcomes related to adherence and clinical improvement were collected, and semistructured interviews were conducted to assess intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that impacted engagement with the system. Methods: Subjects performed between 299 and 2020 minutes of self-scheduled, sparsely supervised hand rehabilitation activities in their homes. Results: As a group, the subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements at the structure/function, activity, and activities of daily living levels of function. Qualitative analysis generated seven themes that both positively and negatively influenced each subject's experience with HoVRS, including challenge as a primary intrinsic motivator and pursuing additional therapy and/or a return to higher functional status as a key extrinsic motivator. Subjects' ratings of the system using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory before and after treatment were uniformly positive, but interview-based feedback was more balanced between positive and negative.

Targeted High-Definition Transcranial Direction Current Stimulation Improves Upper Extremity Rehabilitation in Stroke Individuals

Targeted High-Definition Transcranial Direction Current Stimulation Improves Upper Extremity Rehabilitation in Stroke Individuals

A Pilot Feasibility Study on the Use of Dual-Joystick-Operated Ride-on Toys in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) require task-oriented practice several hours per week to produce meaningful gains in affected upper extremity (UE) motor function. Clinicians find it challenging to provide services at the required intensity and sustain child engagement. This pilot study assessed the acceptance and utility of a child-friendly program using dual-joystick-operated ride-on toys incorporated into an intensive UE rehabilitation camp. Eleven children with UCP between four and 10 years received ride-on-toy navigation training for 20-30 min/day, five days/week, for three weeks as part of camp programming. We report session adherence and percent time children spent in task-appropriate attention/engagement across sessions. The overall effects of camp programming on children's motor function were assessed using the Shriner's Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE) from pretest to posttest and using training-specific measures of bimanual UE use and navigational accuracy. Children showed excellent adherence and sustained task-appropriate engagement across sessions. The combined program led to improved navigational accuracy (p-values ≤ 0.007) as well as spontaneous affected UE use during bimanual activities outside the training context (p < 0.001). Our pilot study provides promising evidence for using modified, commercially available ride-on toys to incentivize rehabilitation and boost repetitive, task-oriented UE practice among children with UCP.

Bio-Inspired Robotic Exoskeletons with Adaptive Electrical Control for Enhanced Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Robotic exoskeletons are a new and hopeful technology for rehabbing the upper limbs. They offer exact control and adjustable help to make traditional treatment more effective. This study suggests a new way to improve the recovery process that combines bio-inspired design with flexible electrical control. It is based on the way biological systems work. The suggested exoskeleton design is biomimetic, meaning that it looks and works like a human arm. This is done to make sure that the person can move naturally and comfortably. Lightweight, flexible materials make up the exoskeleton, which has sensors that track the user's movements and muscle activity. These monitors send input to the control system in real time, which lets it make changes that are more helpful for the user while they do different recovery routines. The control system uses an adaptable electrical treatment method that is based on how the human body controls its muscles. The control system constantly checks the user's muscle action and changes the amount of electrical stimulation to give the best support and help during recovery exercises. This flexible method makes sure that the exoskeleton's help is tailored to the person using it's wants and skills, which helps them recover more quickly. A bio-inspired robotic suit with adjustable electrical control is tested in a set of tests with healthy people and people who have had a stroke. The data show that the exoskeleton improves therapy for the upper limbs by giving individualized help and encouraging natural movement patterns. The adjustable electrical control makes it a lot easier for the user to do recovery exercises, which leads to better performance and a higher quality of life.

A Training Program Using Modified Joystick-Operated Ride-on Toys to Complement Conventional Upper Extremity Rehabilitation in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Results from a Pilot Study.

The pilot study assessed the utility of a training program using modified, commercially available dual-joystick-operated ride-on toys to promote unimanual and bimanual upper extremity (UE) function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The ride-on-toy training was integrated within a 3-week, intensive, task-oriented training camp for children with CP. Eleven children with hemiplegia between 4 and 10 years received the ride-on-toy training program 20-30 min/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks. Unimanual motor function was assessed using the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) before and after the camp. During ride-on-toy training sessions, children wore activity monitors on both wrists to assess the duration and intensity of bimanual UE activity. Video data from early and late sessions were coded for bimanual UE use, independent navigation, and movement bouts. Children improved their total and subscale QUEST scores from pretest to post-test while increasing moderate activity in their affected UE from early to late sessions, demonstrating more equal use of both UEs across sessions. There were no significant changes in the rates of movement bouts from early to late sessions. We can conclude that joystick-operated ride-on toys function as child-friendly, intrinsically rewarding tools that can complement conventional therapy and promote bimanual motor functions in children with CP.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation with task-oriented training improves upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized clinical trial.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a promising brain stimulation modality in poststroke upper extremity rehabilitation. Although several studies have examined the safety and reliability of taVNS, the mechanisms underlying motor recovery in stroke patients remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of taVNS paired with task-oriented training (TOT) on upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke and explore the potential underlying mechanisms. In this double-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot trial, 40 patients with subacute stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the VNS group (VG), receiving taVNS during TOT, and the Sham group (SG), receiving sham taVNS during TOT. The intervention was delivered 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Upper extremity function was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Activities of daily living were measured by the modified Barthel Index (MBI). Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured to evaluate cortical excitability. Assessments were administered at baseline and post-intervention. Additionally, the immediate effect of taVNS was detected using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) before intervention. The VG showed significant improvements in upper extremity function (FMA-UE, ARAT) and activities of daily living (MBI) compared to the SG at post-intervention. Furthermore, the VG demonstrated a higher rate of elicited ipsilesional MEPs and a shorter latency of MEPs in the contralesional M1. In the VG, improvements in FMA-UE were significantly associated with reduced latency of contralesional MEPs. Additionally, fNIRS revealed increased activation in the contralesional prefrontal cortex and ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex in the VG in contrast to the SG. However, no significant between-group differences were found in HRV. The combination of taVNS with TOT effectively improves upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke, potentially through modulating the bilateral cortex excitability to facilitate task-specific functional recovery.

Simulation of a control method for active kinesiotherapy with an upper extremity rehabilitation exoskeleton without force sensor

Exoskeleton-aided active rehabilitation is a process that requires sensing and acting upon the motion intentions of the user. Typically, force sensors are used for this. However, they increase the weight and cost of these wearable devices. This paper presents the methodology for detecting users’ intentions only with encoders integrated with the drives. It is unique compared to other algorithms, as enables active kinesiotherapy while adding no sensory systems. The method is based on comparing the measured motion with the one computed with the idealised model of the multibody system. The investigation assesses the method’s performance and its robustness to model and measurement inaccuracies, as well as patients’ unintended motions. Moreover, the PID parameters are selected to provide the optimal regulation based on the dynamics requirements. The research proves the presented concept of the control approach. For all the tests with the final settings, the system reacts to a change in the user’s intention below one second and minimises the changes in proportion between the system’s acceleration and the generated user’s joint torque. The results are comparable to those obtained by EMG-based systems and significantly better than low-cost force sensors.

Stroke patients’ motivation for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation with eHealth tools

Purpose eHealth-based exercise therapies were developed to increase stroke patients’ adherence to home-based motor rehabilitation. However, these eHealth tools face a rapid decrease in use after a couple of weeks. This study investigates stroke patients’ motivation for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation with eHealth tools and their relation with Basic Psychological Needs. Materials and methods This is a qualitative study using thematic analysis. We conducted semi-structured interviews with stroke patients with upper extremity motor impairments, who were discharged home from a rehabilitation centre, after they interacted with a novel eHealth coach demonstrator in their homes for five consecutive days. Results We included ten stroke patients. Thematic analysis resulted in eight themes for home-based rehabilitation motivation: Curiosity, Rationale, Choice, Optimal challenge, Reference, Encouragement, Social Support and Trustworthiness. Those themes are embedded into three Basic Psychological Needs: “Autonomy”, “Competence”, and “Relatedness”. Conclusion Eight motivational themes related to the three Basic Psychological Needs describe stroke patients’ motivation for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation. We recommend considering those themes when developing a home-based eHealth intervention for stroke patients to increase the alignment of eHealth tools to the patient’s needs and reduce motivational decreases in home-based rehabilitation.

Abstract 118: Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Arm Impairment: One Year Follow-Up of the VNS-REHAB Pivotal Trial

Background: Persistent post-stroke impairment of the arm and hand is debilitating after stroke. Pairing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation improves such deficits after 5 months and was approved by the FDA in 2021. Here, we present 1-year outcomes from the VNS-REHAB pivotal trial. Methods: Stroke participants with moderate-to-severe UE impairment were randomized to task-specific rehabilitation plus either active VNS (n=53, VNS) or sham VNS (n=55, Control). After baseline assessment (Pre-therapy), both groups did 6 wk. of in-clinic therapy followed by a 3-mo. home exercise program combined with active or sham VNS (post90). Controls then crossed over to receive 6 wk. of active VNS followed by a 3-mo. home exercise program (Cross-over post90). Both groups continued active VNS with a home exercise program through 1 year, after which change from Pre-therapy baseline in Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) scores were obtained. To determine whether participants made additional gains, 1 year outcome scores (n=70) were also compared to post90 (n=38, VNS) and Cross-over post90 (n=32, Control) scores. Data was available from 74 participants at one year, with others not available mainly due to COVID-19. Results: At 1-year, both FMA-UE and WMFT scores improved from Pre-therapy baseline by 5.3±6.9 (CI=3.7-6.9, p&lt;0.001) and 0.51±0.52 (CI=0.39-0.63, p&lt;0.001) points, respectively. FMA-UE change at 1-year was not significantly different from the post90 (VNS) and Cross-over post90 (control) timepoints (n=70, mean difference: -0.3±4.1, CI=-1.3-0.67, p=0.52), but WMFT was, by an additional 0.09 points (n=70, mean difference: 0.09±0.35, CI=0.01-0.18, p=0.03), indicating that participants either improved or maintained motor gains through 1 year. Conclusion: Improvements in arm and hand function with VNS were maintained at 1-year follow-up, supporting use of VNS paired with rehabilitation as a long-term treatment option for individuals with post-stroke UE impairment. Limitations include sample size and lack of details of therapeutic regimens over the long term. Future studies and an ongoing clinical registry will explore the long-term impact of active VNS in real-world settings.

Clinical evaluation of a patient participation assessment system for upper extremity rehabilitation exercises.

In conventional and robotic rehabilitation, the patient's active participation in exercises is essential for the maximum functional output to be received from therapy. In rehabilitation exercises performed with robotic devices, the difficulty levels of therapy tasks and the device assistance are adjusted based on the patient's therapy performance to improve active participation. However, the existing therapy performance evaluation methods are based on either some specific device designs or certain therapy tasks, which limits their widespread use. In this paper, the effectiveness of a participation assessment system, which can evaluate patients' therapy performance, tiredness, and slacking independent of any device design and therapy exercise, was clinically tested on ten patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder syndrome. The patients performed exercises using the system once a week throughout their 4-week treatment period. Multiple clinical measurements and scales were employed during the clinical study to assess patients' progress and status, such as tiredness throughout the therapy process. The clinical data, along with the patient findings obtained from the participation assessment system, were statistically analyzed and compared. The findings revealed that the patients' improvements and progress during the therapy process clinically coincide with the variations in the performance evaluation results of the system, and the implemented method successfully assesses the patients' participation during the rehabilitation exercises.

Neuromodulation to guide circuit reorganization with regenerative therapies in upper extremity rehabilitation following cervical spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a profoundly debilitating condition with no effective treatment to date. The complex response of the central nervous system (CNS) to injury and its limited regeneration capacity pose bold challenges for restoring function. Cervical SCIs are the most prevalent and regaining hand function is a top priority for individuals living with cervical SCI. A promising avenue for addressing this challenge arises from the emerging field of regenerative rehabilitation, which combines regenerative biology with physical medicine approaches. The hypothesis for optimizing gains in upper extremity function centers on the integration of targeted neurorehabilitation with novel cell- and stem cell-based therapies. However, the precise roles and synergistic effects of these components remain poorly understood, given the intricate nature of SCI and the diversity of regenerative approaches. This perspective article sheds light on the current state of regenerative rehabilitation for cervical SCI. Notably, preclinical research has yet to fully incorporate rehabilitation protocols that mimic current clinical practices, which often rely on neuromodulation strategies to activate spared circuits below the injury level. Therefore, it becomes imperative to comprehensively investigate the combined effects of neuromodulation and regenerative medicine strategies in animal models before translating these therapies to individuals with SCI. In cases of severe upper extremity paralysis, the advent of neuromodulation strategies, such as corticospinal tract (CST) and spinal cord stimulation, holds promise as the next frontier in enhancing the effectiveness of cell- and stem cell-based therapies. Future preclinical studies should explore this convergence of neuromodulation and regenerative approaches to unlock new possibilities for upper extremity treatment after SCI.

Hybrid Cooperative Control of Functional Electrical Stimulation and Robot Assistance for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Hybrid Cooperative Control of Functional Electrical Stimulation and Robot Assistance for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Development of Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Exercise Device for Combined Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Exercise

Development of Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Exercise Device for Combined Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Exercise