UNASSIGNED: Glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) is a common complication in stroke patients with hemiplegia, occurring in approximately 17-81% of cases. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between shoulder muscle thickness and the degree of subluxation using ultrasound imaging.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional study of 61 stroke patients with hemiplegia was conducted, measuring supraspinatus muscle thickness, deltoid muscle thickness, and acromion-greater tuberosity (AGT). Logistic regression and ROC analyses were used. ROC curves, calibration plots, and decision curves were drawn on the training and validation sets.
UNASSIGNED: According to logistic regression analysis, the ratio of supraspinatus muscle thickness was statistically significant (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.70-0.92; p < 0.01), and it was an independent factor for evaluating the presence or absence of GHS. An AUC of 0.906 (95% CI, 0.802-1.000) was found in the training set; meanwhile, the AUC in the validation set was 0.857 (95% CI, 0.669-1.000), indicating good performance. According to the training set ROC curve, the most effective statistical threshold was 93%, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 96%.
UNASSIGNED: The ratio of supraspinatus muscle thickness is a valuable criterion for evaluating GHS risk, supporting targeted rehabilitation interventions.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with subacute severe hemiplegia often undergo alternate gait training to overcome challenges in achieving walking independence. However, the ankle joint setting in a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) depends on trunk function or paralysis stage for alternate gait training with a KAFO. The optimal degree of ankle joint freedom in a KAFO and the specific ankle joint conditions for effective rehabilitation remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different degrees of freedom of the ankle joint on center-of-pressure (CoP) parameters and muscle activity on the paretic side using a KAFO and to investigate the recommended setting of ankle joint angle in a KAFO depending on physical function.
METHODS: This study included 14 participants with subacute stroke (67.4 ± 13.3 years). The CoP parameters and muscle activity of the gastrocnemius lateralis (GCL) and soleus muscles were compared using a linear mixed model (LMM) under two ankle joint conditions in the KAFO: fixed at 0° and free ankle dorsiflexion. We confirmed the relationship between changes in CoP parameters or muscle activity under different conditions and physical functional characteristics such as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity Synergy Score (FMAs) and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) using LMM.
RESULTS: Anterior-posterior displacement of CoP (AP_CoP) (p = 0.011) and muscle activity of the GCL (p = 0.043) increased in the free condition of ankle dorsiflexion compared with that in the fixed condition. The FMAs (p = 0.004) and TIS (p = 0.008) demonstrated a positive relationship with AP_CoP. A positive relationship was also found between TIS and the percentage of medial forefoot loading time in the CoP (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: For individuals with severe subacute hemiplegia, the ankle dorsiflexion induction in the KAFO, which did not impede the forward tilt of the shank, promotes anterior movement in the CoP and muscle activity of the GCL. This study suggests that adjusting the dorsiflexion mobility of the ankle joint in the KAFO according to improvement in physical function promotes loading of the CoP to the medial forefoot.

UNASSIGNED: Patients with stroke often experience weakened upper limbs, making daily tasks difficult to perform. Although rehabilitation devices are available, patients often relapse post-discharge due to insufficient practice. We present a home-based hand telerehabilitation intervention using the iManus™ platform comprising a sensorized glove, a mobile app for the patients, and a therapist portal for monitoring patient progress.
UNASSIGNED: This research aimed to examine the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a home-based telerehabilitation intervention in improving hand function for individuals with mild stroke. A qualitative approach was also used to explore users\' experiences, perceived benefits, and challenges associated with using the platform in a home setting.
UNASSIGNED: In this single-case study, we delivered a hand telerehabilitation intervention to a chronic stroke patient with impaired hand function using the iManus™ platform. The intervention consisted of 40 home sessions over eight weeks. We assessed feasibility through user adherence and feedback obtained using a System Usability Scale (SUS) and a semi-structured interview with the participant and their informal caregiver. Safety was evaluated by monitoring pain levels using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and efficacy was determined by observing the changes in the fingers\' range of motion using the iManus™ platform and clinical outcomes measures, namely the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT).
UNASSIGNED: Our participant completed all the assigned sessions, with each averaging 20 min. Usability scored 77.5 out of 100 on the SUS. User feedback from the interviews revealed improved mobility and control over therapy as benefits, indicating room for improvement in the intervention\'s adaptability and functionality. During the intervention, the participant noted no pain increase, and the telerehabilitation platform recorded range of motion improvements for all finger and wrist joints, excluding wrist extension. The FMA scores were 43 at T0, 53 at T1, and 56 at T2, while the JTHFT scores were 223 at T0, 188 at T1, and 240 at T2.
UNASSIGNED: This single case study demonstrated the preliminary feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a novel home-based hand intervention for stroke survivors. The participant showed improved hand functions, good adherence to the program, and reported satisfaction with the intervention. However, these results are based on a single-case study, and further large-scale studies are needed before any generalization is recommended.

UNASSIGNED: Asymmetric gait patterns are mostly observed in hemiplegic stroke patients. These abnormal gait patterns resulting in abnormal speed, and decreased ability in daily of activity living.
UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to determine the immediate changes in gait parameters and plantar pressure during elevation by wearing an insole on the sound side lower extremity of patients with hemiplegia.
UNASSIGNED: Thirty-six participants were recruited, comprising those with a post-stroke follow-up of ≥3 months and a functional ambulation category score of ≥2. The participants were asked to walk with and without a 1 cm insole in the shoe of their sound side, and the order of wearing or not wearing the insole was randomized. Gait parameters, bilateral gait parameters, and dynamic plantar pressure were measured using the GAITRite Walkway System.
UNASSIGNED: Paired t-test was used to examine immediate changes in gait parameters and plantar pressure with and without insoles during walking in the same group. Overall, gait velocity and step length significantly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas step time significantly increased (p < 0.05). The swing phase of the affected sidelower extremities significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the stance phase significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Double-support unloading phase (pre-swing phase) significantly increased (p < 0.05). The changes in plantar pressure were significantly increased in some lateral zones and significantly decreased in the medial zone of the mid-hindfoot, both in terms of pressure per time and peak pressure (p < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: Although this study did not show immediate positive effects on gait parameters and gait cycle, it is expected that sensory input from the sole of the foot through changes in plantar pressure may help improve gait asymmetry and regulate postural symmetry.

UNASSIGNED: Cerebral palsy is the most frequent condition affecting the central nervous system and causing large disability.
UNASSIGNED: To determine the impact of touch screen tablet upon fine motor functions in children with hemiparesis.
UNASSIGNED: This was a randomized controlled trial involving 60 children, ranging in age from 5 to 7 years old, randomized into two groups: intervention or control group (30 children per group). Both groups were given 12 consecutive weeks of designed fine motor tasks. Additionally, for thirty minutes, the intervention group was given a fine motor exercise program on a touch screen tablet. Upper limb function, finger dexterity and pinch strength were measured pre and post the recommended treatment program using the quality of upper extremity skill test (QUEST), Nine-Hole Peg Test and Jamar hydraulic pinch gauge, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: All outcome measures were equivalent between intervention groups at admission (P > 0.05). Significant improvements were found in all assessed variables within the two groups. Meanwhile, the intervention group had significantly higher improvements (P < 0.05) in finger dexterity, pinch strength, and upper limb function when compared with the control groups.
UNASSIGNED: Including a touch screen smart tablet application with a specially designed fine motor program is an effective method that helps children with U-CP perform more effectively with their fine motor skills.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a therapeutic tool for improving post-stroke gait disturbances, with ongoing research focusing on specific protocols for its application. We evaluated the feasibility of a rehabilitation protocol that combines tDCS with conventional gait training.
METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, single-center pilot clinical trial. Patients with unilateral hemiplegia due to ischemic stroke were randomly assigned to either the tDCS with gait training group or the sham stimulation group. The anodal tDCS electrode was placed on the tibialis anterior area of the precentral gyrus while gait training proceeded. Interventions were administered 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcome assessments, using the 10-meter walk test, Timed Up and Go test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulatory Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version, were conducted before and after the intervention and again at the 8-week mark following its completion. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons between and within groups.
RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were assessed for eligibility, and 20 were enrolled and randomized. No significant differences were observed between the tDCS with gait training group and the sham stimulation group in gait speed after the intervention. However, the tDCS with gait training group showed significant improvement in balance performance in both within-group and between-group comparisons. In the subgroup analysis of patients with elicited motor-evoked potentials, comfortable pace gait speed improved in the tDCS with gait training group. No serious adverse events occurred throughout the study.
CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous anodal tDCS during gait training is a feasible rehabilitation protocol for chronic stroke patients with gait disturbances.
BACKGROUND: URL: https://cris.nih.go.kr; Registration number: KCT0007601; Date of registration: 11 July 2022.

UNASSIGNED: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a potential treatment for improving movement disorder. However, few large-sample studies can reveal its efficacy and safety. This study aims to initially explore the efficacy and safety of DBS in the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) on motor function in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
UNASSIGNED: This multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized crossover clinical trial aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) for patients with moderate to severe post-stroke hemiplegia. Sixty-two patients with stable disease after a year of conservative treatment will be enrolled and implanted with deep brain electrodes. Post-surgery, patients will be randomly assigned to either the DBS group or the control group, with 31 patients in each. The DBS group will receive electrical stimulation 1 month later, while the control group will undergo sham stimulation. Stimulation will be discontinued after 3 and 6 months, followed by a 2-week washout period. Subsequently, the control group will receive electrical stimulation, while the DBS group will undergo sham stimulation. Both groups will resume electrical stimulation at the 9th and 12th-month follow-ups. Post-12-month follow-up, motor-related scores will be collected for analysis, with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity Scale (FMA-UE) as the primary metric. Secondary outcomes include balance function, neuropsychiatric behavior, fall risk, daily living activities, and quality of life. This study aims to provide insights into the therapeutic benefits of DBS for post-stroke hemiplegia patients.
UNASSIGNED: We proposed this study for the first time to comprehensively explore the effectiveness and safety of DBS in improving motor function for post-stroke hemiplegia, and provide evidence for DBS in the treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia. Study limitations are related to the small sample size and short study period.
UNASSIGNED: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT05968248.

UNASSIGNED: Intermittent theta-burst stimulation and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation can improve motor function in poststroke patients, but the therapeutic effect of this combination remains unclear.
UNASSIGNED: To determine the effects of central intermittent theta-burst stimulation and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on upper limb function.
UNASSIGNED: Fifty-six subacute stroke patients were randomly assigned to three groups: the CMS (n = 18), peripheral magnetic stimulation (PMS) (n = 19) and CPS (n = 19) groups. The CMS group received intermittent theta-burst stimulation and peripheral false stimulation, while the PMS group received repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and central false stimulation once a day for five days a week over four weeks. The CPS group received intermittent theta-burst stimulation and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation simultaneously once daily for four weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, Modified Barthel Index and Modified Ashworth Scale evaluated outcomes before and after four weeks of treatment.
UNASSIGNED: The motor function scores of all groups were significantly increased after treatment compared with before treatment, while the Modified Ashworth Scale score showed no significant change. There was a significant difference in the motor function score of the CPS group compared with that of the CMS and PMS groups, but there was no significant improvement in the Modified Ashworth Scale score.
UNASSIGNED: Combining the two treatment methods can improve patients\' motor function and daily living abilities but cannot improve muscle tone.
UNASSIGNED: La estimulación intermitente de theta-burst y la estimulación magnética periférica repetitiva pueden mejorar la función motora en pacientes postictus, pero el efecto terapéutico de esta combinación sigue sin estar claro.
UNASSIGNED: Determinar el efecto de la estimulacion central intermitente theta-burst y la estimulación magnética repetitiva periférica en la función del miembro superior.
UNASSIGNED: Se asignaron aleatoriamente a tres grupos 56 pacientes con ictus subagudo: CMS (n = 18), estimulación magnética periferica (PMS) (n = 19) y CPS(Cm1) (n = 19). El grupo CMS recibió estimulación intermitente de theta-burst y falsa estimulación periférica, el grupo PMS recibió estimulación magnética periférica repetitiva y falsa estimulación central una vez al día durante cinco días a la semana a lo largo de cuatro semanas. El grupo SPC recibió estimulación intermitente theta-burst y estimulación magnética periférica repetitiva simultáneamente una vez al día durante cuatro semanas. Se utilizaron la Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, Modified Barthel Index and Modified Ashworth Scale para evaluar losresultados antes y después de cuatro semanas de tratamiento.
UNASSIGNED: Las puntuaciones de la función motora de todos los grupos aumentaron significativamente después del tratamiento en comparación con antes del tratamiento, mientras que la puntuación de la Escala de Ashworth Modificada no mostró cambios significativos. Hubo una diferencia significativa en la puntuación de la función motora del grupo CPS en comparación con la de los grupos CMS y PMS, pero no hubo una mejora significativa en la puntuación de la Escala de Ashworth Modificada.
UNASSIGNED: La combinación de los dos métodos de tratamiento puede mejorar la función motora y las capacidades de la vida diaria de los pacientes, pero no puede mejorar el tono muscular.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the walking performances of hemiplegic subjects with chronic stroke under 3 conditions: with a new standard carbon fibre ankle foot orthosis (C-AFO), with a personal custom-made plastic AFO (P-AFO), and without any orthosis (No-AFO).
METHODS: Randomized, controlled crossover design.
METHODS: Fifteen chronic patients with stroke (3 women  and 12 men, 59 [10] years, 13 [15] years since injury).
METHODS: Patients performed 3 randomized sessions (with C-AFO, P-AFO, no-AFO), consisting of a 6-min walk test (6MWT) with VO2 measurement and a clinical gait analysis. Energy cost (Cw), walking speed, spatio-temporal, kinetic, and kinematic variables were measured.
RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the C-AFO and P-AFO conditions. Distance and walking speed in the 6MWT increased by 12% and 10% (p < 0.001) and stride width decreased by -8.7% and -13% (p < 0.0001) with P-AFO and C-AFO compared with the No-AFO condition. Cw decreased by 15% (p < 0.002), stride length increased by 10% (p < 0.01), step length on affected leg increased by 8% (p < 0.01), step length on contralateral leg by 13% (p < 0.01), and swing time on the contralateral leg increased by 6% (p < 0.01) with both AFO compared with the No-AFO condition.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of an off-the-shelf composite AFO (after a short habituation period) in patients with chronic stroke immediately improved energy cost and gait outcomes to the same extent as their usual custom-made AFO.

The control strategy of rehabilitation robots should not only adapt to patients with different levels of motor function but also encourage patients to participate voluntarily in rehabilitation training. However, existing control strategies usually consider only one of these aspects. This study proposes a voluntary and adaptive control strategy that solves both questions. Firstly, the controller switched to the corresponding working modes (including challenge, free, assistant, and robot-dominant modes) based on the trajectory tracking error of human-robot cooperative movement. To encourage patient participation, a musculoskeletal model was used to estimate the patient\'s active torque. The robot\'s output torque was designed as the product of the active torque and a coefficient, with the coefficient adaptively changing according to the working mode. Experiments were conducted on two healthy subjects and four hemiplegic patients using an ankle rehabilitation robot. The results showed that this controller not only provided adaptive the robot\'s output torque based on the movement performance of patients but also encouraged patients to complete movement tasks themselves. Therefore, the control strategy has high application value in the field of rehabilitation.
康复机器人的控制策略既要适应不同运动功能水平的患者，又要提高患者康复训练的自主性，而现有的控制策略往往只考虑一个方面。该研究提出的自主自适应控制策略就同时解决了这2个问题。首先该控制策略根据人机协同运动过程中的轨迹追踪误差，切换到对应的工作模式（包括挑战、自由、助力和机器支配模式）。其次，为了激发患者的自主性，将肌肉骨骼模型估算患者的主动力矩与系数的乘积作为机器输出力，系数根据工作模式可自适应变化。为了验证该策略的有效性，团队使用踝关节康复机器人完成了2名健康人和4名偏瘫患者的实验，实验结果表明，该控制策略能够自适应地根据患者的运动表现调整机器输出力，同时尽可能地鼓励患者自主完成动作任务。该控制策略在康复领域具有较高的应用价值。.