Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation最新文献

{"title":"Rehabilitation training robot using mirror therapy for the upper and lower limb after stroke: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Xixi Wu, Xu Qiao, Yudi Xie, Qingyan Yang, Wenting An, Lingfeng Xia, Jiatao Li, Xiao Lu","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01590-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01590-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This prospective cohort study was designed to investigate and compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation training robots versus conventional rehabilitation training on stroke survivors by monitoring alterations in brain network of stroke patients before and after robot intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between September 2020 and November 2021, stroke patients at four grade-A tertiary hospitals underwent limb rehabilitation training. Of the total of participants, 117 patients received conventional limb rehabilitation, 93 patients participated in upper-limb robot training, and 103 patients underwent lower-limb robot training. The measured outcomes included modified Barthel Index (MBI), Fugl-Meyer assessment subscale (FMA), and manual muscle testing (MMT). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted on 30 patients to assess changes in the brain network. Data were mainly analyzed based on the Intention-to-Treat (ITT) principle.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Post-interventional analysis utilizing linear mixed models in ITT analysis revealed that the robot training group had greater enhancements compared to the conventional limb rehabilitation training group. Notably, the shoulder flexor strength (P = 0.043) was significantly higher in the upper-limb group. On the other hand, hip flexor strength (P < 0.001), hip extensor strength (P < 0.001), knee extensor strength (P = 0.013), ankle dorsiflexion strength (P < 0.001) and ankle plantarflexor strength (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the lower-limb group. In the upper-limb group, region-of-interest (ROI) -to-ROI analysis revealed enhanced functional connectivity between the left hemisphere's motor control region and the auditory network. ROI-to-ROI analysis primarily showed enhanced interhemispheric functional connectivity in the lower-limb group, specifically between right the hemisphere's motor control region (central opercular cortex) and left hemisphere's primary motor area in the precentral gyrus.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>According to our research findings, upper- and lower-limb rehabilitation robots demonstrated great potential in promoting motor function recovery in stroke patients. Robot-assisted training offers an alternative treatment method with comparable efficacy to traditional rehabilitation. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800019783).</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"54"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11889811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143585942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Submovements in manual tracking: people with Parkinson's disease produce more submovements than age-matched controls.","authors":"Lior Noy, Sharon Hassin-Baer, Tsvia Fay-Karmon, Noora Kattouf, Simon Israeli-Korn, Robrecht van der Wel, Jason Friedman","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01592-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01592-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In general, people are unable to produce slow, smooth movements - as movements become slower (i.e., with longer durations), they become jerkier. A hallmark feature of Parkinson's disease is bradykinesia - slowness of movement. In this study, we investigate the intersection of these two observations - how do people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) perform in a slow tracking task, and how does it vary as a function of movement frequency? On the one hand, as PwP move more slowly in day-to-day life, they may be better in a slow tracking task. On the other hand, their general impairment in movement production may lead to worse tracking outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used a well-tested tracking task known as the one-person mirror game, where participants control the left-right movement of an ellipse on a graphics tablet. They did so using a stylus and were instructed to match the horizontal location of a stimulus, an ellipse moving in a sinusoidal fashion at different movement frequencies and peak velocities. We calculated the submovement rate, identifying both type 2 (acceleration zero crossings) and type 3 (jerk zero crossings) from the trajectories, as well as relative position error (dX) and mean timing error (dT). To account for age-related performance decline, we tested three groups: PwP (N = 31), age-matched controls (OC; N = 29), and younger controls (YC; N = 30) in a cross-sectional study, and used mixed-design ANOVAs to compare across groups and movement frequencies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We reproduced earlier results showing that slow movements (i.e., with lower frequencies) require more submovements to track. PwP also generally performed more submovements than the other two groups, but only for type 3 submovements, whereas OC and YC performed submovements at a similar rate. Younger controls (YC) performed fewer tracking errors than older participants (both PwP and OC), and OC performed better than PwP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The ability to smoothly track showed an age-related decline, with PwP producing more errors and using more submovements. This may be due to reduced automaticity in movement production. The findings of the study can be used to guide optimal movement frequencies for motor training for older adults and PwP.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"51"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined effects and timing of robotic training and botulinum toxin on upper limb spasticity and motor function: a single‑blinded randomized controlled pilot study.","authors":"Joon-Ho Shin, Gyulee Park, Hayeon Kim, Duk Youn Cho, Suncheol Kwon","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01584-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01584-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of robotic training (RT) and botulinum toxin (BTX) injections on motor function and spasticity in individuals with post-stroke upper limb spasticity (ULS). We also sought to investigate the optimal timing of RT and BTX administration.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty-two participants with chronic stroke-induced ULS were initially enrolled and randomized into four groups: Group B4R4 (RT + BTX at 4 weeks [W4]), Group B0R0 (RT + BTX at baseline [W0]), Group B0R4 (BTX at W0, RT at W4), and Group B4R0 (RT at W0, BTX at W4). Clinical assessments and robotic kinematic evaluations were performed at W0, W4, and 8 weeks (W8). The primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) score, and secondary outcomes included the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of the elbow and kinematic parameters, such as spectral arc length, mean speed, hand path ratio, and movement deviation in various tasks. Changes in outcome measures over time were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects regression model or ordinal logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 42 participants, 40 completed the study. From W0 to W4, Group B0R0 exhibited the most favorable outcomes in terms of spasticity (MAS-elbow flexor and extensor) and kinematic variables, suggesting that the combined application of BTX and RT is superior to sole interventions in improving motor function and spasticity. From W0 to W8, Group B0R4 demonstrated the most substantial improvements in FMA scores and kinematic parameters, indicating that the combined use of BTX and RT, particularly when RT is initiated 1 month after BTX injection, results in superior functional outcomes compared to other intervention timings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The combination of RT and BTX is more effective in enhancing motor function and reducing spasticity in individuals with ULS than either intervention alone or no intervention. Furthermore, the timing of RT relative to BTX injection plays a critical role in maximizing therapeutic benefits in individuals with stroke and ULS, given the distinct modes of action of each intervention.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>clinicaltrials.gov NCT02228863. The study was retrospectively registered on August 23, 2014.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association of upper limb sensorimotor capacity, everyday inpatient behavior, and the effects of neurorehabilitation in persons with multiple sclerosis and stroke: a mixed-design study.","authors":"Philipp Gulde, Heike Vojta, Stephanie Schmidle, Peter Rieckmann, Joachim Hermsdörfer","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01586-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01586-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Quantifying and monitoring the sensorimotor state of persons with neurological disease by means of wearables in everyday life has been shown to be a promising approach. To date, the impact of physical activity volumes in fixed epoch approaches has been limiting the feasibility of kinematic analyses of everyday life upper limb use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using acceleration and angular velocity signals from wrist-worn sensors, we collected data of healthy controls (n = 12) as well as persons with multiple sclerosis (n = 17) or stroke (n = 14) during everyday life during inpatient neurorehabilitation. An activity recognition algorithm was used to avoid physical activity volume dependencies that come with epoch-based approaches. Behavioral kinematics were compared between samples and associated with clinical test performance. Further, changes of sensorimotor capacity and behavioral kinematics during neurorehabilitation (n = 15) were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Physical activity volume independence was achieved. Persons with neurological disease showed less activities and longer activity durations. Further, a PCA suggested three underlying components, namely: behavior, neurological state, and physical state. Components scores were lower (worse) for persons with neurological disease, except for behavior. However, component scores of persons with neurological disease showed great variability in all dimensions. Changes in sensorimotor capacity were partially associated with changes in behavioral kinematics, but effects of neurorehabilitation were mostly seen in outcomes associated with the physical state component.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Persons with neurological disease showed neurological impairments as well as declines in the physical condition, which can to some extent be seen in behavioral kinematics. Neurorehabilitation appeared to rather affect the physical than the neurological state. By the novel approach using an activity recognizer instead of fixed epochs, it was possible show traces of sensorimotor capacity, as assessed by clinical tests, in kinematics of everyday life behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of an upper limb motion-driven virtual rehabilitation system on residual motor function in patients with complete spinal cord injury： a pilot study.","authors":"Yanqing Xiao, Yang Gao, Hongming Bai, Guiyun Song, Hanming Wang, Jia-Sheng Rao, Aimin Hao, Xiaoguang Li, Jia Zheng","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01587-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01587-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Assessing residual motor function in motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients using surface electromyography (sEMG) is clinically important. Due to the prolonged loss of motor control and peripheral sensory input, patients may struggle to effectively activate residual motor function during sEMG assessments. The study proposes using virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance embodiment, motor imagery (MI), and memory, aiming to improve the activation of residual motor function and increase the sensitivity of sEMG assessments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>By Recruiting a sample of 12 patients with AIS A/B and capturing surface electromyographic signals before, druing and after VR training, RESULTS: Most patients showed significant electromyographic improvements in activation frequency and or 5-rank frequency during or after VR training. However, one patient with severe lower limb neuropathic pain did not exhibit volitional electromyographic activation, though their pain diminished during the VR training.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>VR can enhance the activation of patients' residual motor function by improving body awareness and MI, thereby increasing the sensitivity of sEMG assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11881371/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Abnormal arm swing movements in Parkinson's disease: onset, progression and response to L-Dopa.","authors":"M Patera, A Zampogna, L Pietrosanti, F Asci, M Falletti, G Pinola, E Bianchini, G Di Lazzaro, V Rosati, P Grillo, F Giannini, F Fattapposta, G Costantini, A Pisani, G Saggio, Antonio Suppa","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01589-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01589-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reduced arm swing movements during gait are an early motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD). The clinical evolution, response to L-Dopa and pathophysiological underpinning of abnormal arm swing movements in PD remain largely unclear. By using a network of wearable sensors, this study objectively assesses arm swing movements during gait in PD patients across different disease stages and therapeutic conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty healthy subjects (HS) and 40 PD patients, including 20 early-stage and 20 mid-advanced subjects, underwent a 6-m Timed Up and Go test while monitored through a network of wearable inertial sensors. Arm swing movements were objectively evaluated in both hemibodies and different upper limb joints (shoulder and elbow), using specific time-domain (range of motion and velocity) and frequency-domain measures (harmonics and total harmonic distortion). To assess the effects of L-Dopa, patients under chronic dopaminergic therapy were randomly examined when OFF and ON therapy. Finally, clinical-behavioral correlations were investigated, primarily focusing on the relationship between arm swing movements and cardinal L-Dopa-responsive motor signs, including bradykinesia and rigidity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to HS, the whole group of PD patients showed reduced range of motion and velocity, alongside increased asymmetry of arm swing movements during gait. Additionally, a distinct increase in total harmonic distortion was found in patients. The kinematic changes were prominent in the early stage of the disease and progressively worsened owing to the involvement of the less affected hemibody. The time- and frequency-domain abnormalities were comparable in the two joints (i.e., shoulder and elbow). In the subgroup of patients under chronic dopaminergic treatment, L-Dopa restored patterns of arm swing movements. Finally, the kinematic alterations in arm swing movements during gait correlated with the clinical severity of bradykinesia and rigidity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Arm swing movements during gait in PD are characterized by narrow, slow, and irregular patterns. As the disease progresses, arm swing movements deteriorate also in the less affected hemibody, without any joint specificity. The positive response to L-Dopa along with the significant correlation between kinematics and bradykinesia/rigidity scores points to the involvement of dopaminergic pathways in the pathophysiology of abnormal arm swing movements in PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11877831/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of brain-computer interface based training on post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation: a meta-analysis.","authors":"Dan Li, Ruoyu Li, Yunping Song, Wenting Qin, Guangli Sun, Yunxi Liu, Yunjun Bao, Lingyu Liu, Lingjing Jin","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01588-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01588-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous research has used the brain-computer interface (BCI) to promote upper-limb motor rehabilitation. However, the results of these studies were variable, leaving efficacy unclear.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This review aims to evaluate the effects of BCI-based training on post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation and identify potential factors that may affect the outcome.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A meta-analysis including all available randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that reported the efficacy of BCI-based training on upper-limb motor rehabilitation after stroke.</p><p><strong>Data sources and methods: </strong>We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science before September 15, 2024, for relevant studies. The primary efficacy outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper extremity (FMA-UE). RevMan 5.4.1 with a random effect model was used for data synthesis and analysis. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-one RCTs (n = 886 patients) were reviewed in the meta-analysis. Compared with control, BCI-based training exerted significant effects on FMA-UE (MD = 3.69, 95%CI 2.41-4.96, P < 0.00001, moderate-quality evidence), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) (MD = 5.00, 95%CI 2.14-7.86, P = 0.0006, low-quality evidence), and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) (MD = 2.04, 95%CI 0.25-3.82, P = 0.03, high-quality evidence). Additionally, BCI-based training was effective on FMA-UE for both subacute (MD = 4.24, 95%CI 1.81-6.67, P = 0.0006) and chronic patients (MD = 2.63, 95%CI 1.50-3.76, P < 0.00001). BCI combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) (MD = 4.37, 95%CI 3.09-5.65, P < 0.00001), robots (MD = 2.87, 95%CI 0.69-5.04, P = 0.010), and visual feedback (MD = 4.46, 95%CI 0.24-8.68, P = 0.04) exhibited significant effects on FMA-UE. BCI combined with FES significantly improved FMA-UE for both subacute (MD = 5.31, 95%CI 2.58-8.03, P = 0.0001) and chronic patients (MD = 3.71, 95%CI 2.44-4.98, P < 0.00001), and BCI combined with robots was effective for chronic patients (MD = 1.60, 95%CI 0.15-3.05, P = 0.03). Better results may be achieved with daily training sessions ranging from 20 to 90 min, conducted 2-5 sessions per week for 3-4 weeks.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>BCI-based training may be a reliable rehabilitation program to improve upper-limb motor impairment and function.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42022383390.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"44"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11874405/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143542310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: On the role of visual feedback and physiotherapist-patient interaction in robot-assisted gait training: an eye-tracking and HD-EEG study.","authors":"Francesca Patarini, Federica Tamburella, Floriana Pichiorri, Shiva Mohebban, Alessandra Bigioni, Andrea Ranieri, Francesco Di Tommaso, Nevio Luigi Tagliamonte, Giada Serratore, Matteo Lorusso, Angela Ciaramidaro, Febo Cincotti, Giorgio Scivoletto, Donatella Mattia, Jlenia Toppi","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01569-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01569-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11874640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143542309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Somatosensory training: a systematic review and meta-analysis with methodological considerations and clinical insights.","authors":"Ryoki Sasaki, Sho Kojima, Kei Saito, Hideaki Onishi","doi":"10.1186/s12984-025-01579-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-025-01579-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Somatosensory training, which involves repetitive somatosensory stimulation, has been employed to enhance somatosensory performance by modulating excitability in the primary somatosensory cortex. This process, known as perceptual learning, can benefit stroke patients with somatosensory deficits. However, its effectiveness in both healthy individuals and stroke patients has not been thoroughly investigated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of somatosensory training in these groups. However, no eligible data on stroke patients were identified, excluding them from the analysis. In healthy participants, somatosensory training improved performance in 61.2% datasets, but this effect was observed only at the stimulated site. Additionally, it increased early somatosensory-evoked potential amplitudes in 76.9% of datasets at the stimulated site, with no effect on the non-stimulated site. Despite these moderate improvements, the risk of bias assessment revealed methodological concerns including randomization process, proper control conditions, blinding information, and missing data. The meta-analysis focused on the impact of somatosensory training on tactile two-point discrimination (TPD) in various factors, including different age groups, stimulus durations, stimulus frequencies, and stimulus types. A marked reduction in TPD threshold was observed at the stimulated finger post-training compared to pre-training, though there was a noticeable heterogeneity across studies. In contrast, no significant changes occurred at the non-stimulated fingers, and the subgroup analysis found no specific factors influencing TPD improvements. Although somatosensory training benefits healthy individuals, the variability and methodological concerns highlight the need for further high-quality research to optimize its use in treating somatosensory deficits in stroke patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"43"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11874847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143542314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recovr reality - Recover after injury or surgery to the brain and spinal cord with virtual Reality: ideal stage 2a clinical feasibility study.","authors":"William Stephen Bolton, Rohitashwa Sinha, Sara Cooper, Oluwaseyi Adebola, Elisa Stephenson, Seonaid Ewan, Rachel Hunsley, Victoria Kearton, David Stevens, Ryan Koshy Mathew","doi":"10.1186/s12984-024-01499-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12984-024-01499-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Neurorehabilitation is fundamental to improve outcomes for patients recovering from injury to the central nervous system. Access to neurorehabilitation is limited by resource shortages; the consequences of which are unfulfilled therapy needs, longer hospital stays and detrimental effects on quality of life. Virtual reality (VR) could be used to enhance neurorehabilitation in a self-directed, safe, virtual environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a VR rehabilitation programme in an acute neurosurgical inpatient environment to improve neurorehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A single-group, prospective, clinical feasibility study was conducted in a tertiary UK neurosurgical department. The study included patients aged 16 and over who had neurosurgical care following surgery or traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. Participants were offered a VR session at least once per day for the first 14 days post-surgery/injury or until discharge, whichever came first, with reasons for non-engagement collected. Primary outcomes were feasibility outcomes and secondary outcomes included rehabilitation engagement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the thirty-nine eligible participants approached, thirty-two participants were recruited and received VR at least once. Intervention fidelity was deemed a success, as none of the VR equipment or applications failed. Median time between injury or surgery and first VR use was three days (IQR = 8.25). The Hopkins Rehabilitation Engagement scale and Simulation Sickness Questionnaires were deemed feasible instruments to measure outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We confirmed feasibility of using a VR rehabilitation tool for neurosurgical patients in this study. This now facilitates progression to a multi-centre, prospective, randomised, controlled, unblinded, parallel-group trial of VR-enhanced neurorehabilitation versus standard neurorehabilitation for improving recovery after neurotrauma or neurosurgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":16384,"journal":{"name":"Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation","volume":"22 1","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11874843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143542313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}