Reliability of the Italian Version of the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale Administered Remotely.

Despite the increase in home-based rehabilitation, outcome measures for telerehabilitation are still underdeveloped. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is one of the most widely used tools for evaluating post-stroke motor deficits, with the upper extremity component (FMA-UE) recommended for assessing motor deficits of the arm. This study aims to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Italian version of the FMA-UE, administered remotely via video conferencing during a robotic telerehabilitation program.

Implementation of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation protocol for a customized treatment after stroke: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Many authors have emphasized the need for individualized treatments in rehabilitation, but no tailored robotic rehabilitation protocol for stroke patients has been established yet.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation protocol based on clinical assessment for customized treatment of stroke patients.

Methods: Clinical data from 81 patients with subacute stroke, undergoing an upper limb robot-mediated rehabilitation, were analyzed retrospectively.

Oxidative Stress Status in Post Stroke Patients: Sex Differences.

After a cerebral stroke insult, there is an overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which overcome the antioxidant defenses, causing further tissues damage. The status of oxidative stress in stroke patients over time, particularly in those undergoing rehabilitation treatments, has been poorly investigated. We analyzed the oxidative stress status in 61 subacute stroke patients (33 females and 28 males) admitted to our rehabilitation center by measuring, in serum: hydroperoxides levels (d-ROMs), antioxidant activity (BAP test), and the relative antioxidant capacity (OSI index).

Serotonin Levels and Cognitive Recovery in Patients with Subacute Stroke after Rehabilitation Treatment.

Post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment are common conditions affecting patients after stroke. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in modulating, among others, mood, cognition, learning, and memory. Sub-optimal serotonin activity may be in part responsible for cognitive deficits seen in depression.

Influence of Cognitive Impairment on the Recovery of Subjects with Subacute Stroke Undergoing Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation.

Cognitive decline is often present in stroke survivors, with a significant impact on motor recovery. However, how specific cognitive domains could impact motor recovery after robotic rehabilitation in patients with stroke is still not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between cognitive impairment and the outcome of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation intervention in a sample of 51 subacute stroke patients.

Association Study of (5-HTTLPR) Polymorphism and Its Promoter Methylation with Rehabilitation Outcome in Patients with Subacute Stroke.

Recently it has been suggested that () and its 5HTTLPR polymorphism could be involved in post stroke recovery. Here, we characterized the methylation profile of two different CpG islands within the promoter region in the whole blood of 50 patients with subacute stroke before and after a six-week rehabilitation treatment. These patients were genotyped for 5HTTLPR polymorphism identifying patients on the basis of short (S) and L (L) alleles: 17 patients LL, 22 patients LS and 11 patients SS.

Robotic Rehabilitation: An Opportunity to Improve Cognitive Functions in Subjects With Stroke. An Explorative Study.

After a stroke, up to three-quarters of acute and subacute stroke survivors exhibit cognitive impairment, with a significant impact on functional recovery, quality of life, and social engagement. Robotic therapy has shown its effectiveness on motor recovery, but its effectiveness on cognitive recovery has not fully investigated. This study aims to assess the impact of a technological rehabilitation intervention on cognitive functions in patients with stroke, using a set of three robots and one sensor-based device for upper limb rehabilitation.

BDNF rs6265 Polymorphism and Its Methylation in Patients with Stroke Undergoing Rehabilitation.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and its rs6265 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) play an important role in post-stroke recovery. We investigated the correlation between rs6265 SNP and recovery outcome, measured by the modified Barthel index, in 49 patients with stroke hospitalized in our rehabilitation center at baseline (T0) and after 30 sessions of rehabilitation treatment (T1); moreover, we analyzed the methylation level of the CpG site created or abolished into rs6265 SNP. In total, 11 patients (22.

Age is negatively associated with upper limb recovery after conventional but not robotic rehabilitation in patients with stroke: a secondary analysis of a randomized-controlled trial.

Background: There is consistent evidence that robotic rehabilitation is at least as effective as conventional physiotherapy for upper extremity (UE) recovery after stroke, suggesting to focus research on which subgroups of patients may better respond to either intervention. In this study, we evaluated which baseline variables are associated with the response after the two approaches.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized-controlled trial comparing robotic and conventional treatment for the UE.

Reliability, validity and discriminant ability of a robotic device for finger training in patients with subacute stroke.

Background: The majority of stroke survivors experiences significant hand impairments, as weakness and spasticity, with a severe impact on the activity of daily living. To objectively evaluate hand deficits, quantitative measures are needed. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability, the validity and the discriminant ability of the instrumental measures provided by a robotic device for hand rehabilitation, in a sample of patients with subacute stroke.

Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation After Stroke: A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Purpose: After stroke, only 12% of survivors obtain complete upper limb (UL) functional recovery, while in 30% to 60% UL deficits persist. Despite the complexity of the UL, prior robot-mediated therapy research has used only one robot in comparisons to conventional therapy. We evaluated the efficacy of robotic UL treatment using a set of 4 devices, compared with conventional therapy.