Bedside patient engagement monitor for rehabilitation in disorders of consciousness - demonstrative case-reports.

Aim: A chronic disorder of consciousness (DOC) is a devastating condition for the patients and their families. Achieving improved communication with patients in this state is of utmost importance. Over recent years we have seen some progress in the development of rehabilitation protocols for patients with DOC by which the patient's limited actions impact the environment (e.

A pilot study on the electrophysiological monitoring of patient's engagement in post-stroke physical rehabilitation.

This study discusses the feasibility of an electrophysiological monitor for patient engagement during rehabilitation sessions. While patient engagement has a significant clinical role, it is not obvious how its real-time monitoring could be used. We designed this study to provide further support for the feasibility of such a tool based on the Brain Engagement Index (BEI), and to discuss clinical usefulness and its evaluation.

Changes in mu and beta amplitude of the EEG during upper limb movement correlate with motor impairment and structural damage in subacute stroke.

Objective: Mu and beta EEG oscillations show typical desynchronization patterns during movement. The aim of the current study was to assess whether in sub-acute stroke patients the magnitude of movement-related desynchronization reflects the extent of residual motor ability in the paretic upper limb.

Methods: EEG and EMG data were recorded from 14 first-event stroke patients during repeated wrist extension movements of the paretic upper limb.

Lesion location impact on functional recovery of the hemiparetic upper limb.

The effect of stroke topography on the recovery of hemiparetic upper limb (HUL) function is unclear due to limitations in previous studies-examination of lesion effects only in one point of time, or grouping together patients with left and right hemispheric damage (LHD, RHD), or disregard to different lesion impact on proximal and distal operations. Here we used voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM) to investigate the impact of stroke topography on HUL function taking into consideration the effects of (a) assessment time (subacute, chronic phases), (b) side of damaged hemisphere (left, right), (c) HUL part (proximal, distal). HUL function was examined in 3 groups of patients-Subacute (n = 130), Chronic (n = 66), and Delta (n = 49; patients examined both in the subacute and chronic phases)-using the proximal and distal sub-divisions of the Fugl-Meyer (FM) and the Box and Blocks (B&B) tests.

[RECRUITMENT PATTERNS OF HOMOLOGOUS MUSCLES DURING UNILATERAL MOVEMENT IN HEMIPARETIC SUBJECTS].

Introduction: The presence of unintentional muscular activity, with or without overt movement, in the homologue muscle contralateral to the limb being activated voluntarily, has been documented in both healthy and hemi-paretic populations. This activity has been termed contra-lateral motor irradiation (CMI), mirror movement, associated movement, motor overflow or synkinesis.

Aims: To characterize the CMI phenomenon amongst healthy controls and patients with varying degrees of motor ability and also to assess the ability to consciously control this phenomenon.

Neurophysiological effects of mirror visual feedback in stroke patients with unilateral hemispheric damage.

Background And Objective: Mirror visual feedback (MVF; the illusory perception of movement in one hand upon viewing the moving opposite hand in a midsagittal mirror) is thought to facilitate restoration of mal-adaptive neurophysiological processes underlying conditions like complex regional pain syndrome and phantom limb pain, and to have a positive effect on brain plasticity processes underlying motor recovery after stroke. However, its exact mode of action remains unclear. The aim of the current study was to explore the immediate neurophysiological effects of MVF in patients with stroke-related hemiparesis.

An EEG Tool for Monitoring Patient Engagement during Stroke Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study.

Objective: Patient engagement is of major significance in neural rehabilitation. We developed a real-time EEG marker for attention, the Brain Engagement Index (BEI). In this work we investigate the relation between the BEI and temporary functional change during a rehabilitation session.

Electrophysiological manifestations of mirror visual feedback during manual movement.

Objective: To investigate the neurophysiological manifestations of the mechanism underlying the effects of Mirror Visual Feedback (MVF) during manual movement.

Method: Thirteen healthy right handed individuals were assessed while performing repeated unilateral wrist extension movements with and without MVF. The effect of MVF on EEG oscillations was studied in 3 distinct frequency ranges (low mu, high mu, low beta).

Heart rate autonomic regulation system at rest and during paced breathing among patients with CRPS as compared to age-matched healthy controls.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the autonomic nerve heart rate regulation system at rest and its immediate response to paced breathing among patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as compared with age-matched healthy controls.

Design: Quasiexperimental.

Setting: Outpatient clinic.

HandTutor™ enhanced hand rehabilitation after stroke--a pilot study.

Background And Purpose: This study assessed the potential therapeutic benefi t of using HandTutor™ in combination with traditional rehabilitation in a post-stroke sub-acute population. The study compares an experimental group receiving traditional therapy combined with HandTutorTM treatment, against a control group receiving only traditional therapy.

Method: An assessor-blinded, randomized controlled pilot trial, was conducted in the Reuth rehabilitation unit in Israel.

Does passive leg activity influence oxygen saturation and activity in sedentary elderly adults?

This study aimed to investigate whether any physiological changes might have a clinically significant effect on function in sedentary, institutionalized, older adults treated by a passive training program. A total of 18 subjects (mean age 60.7 +/- 3.