Telerehabilitation using a 2-D planar arm rehabilitation robot for hemiparetic stroke: a feasibility study of clinic-to-home exergaming therapy.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a 2D-planar robot for minimally supervised home-based upper-limb therapy for post-stroke hemiparesis.

Methods: The H-Man, end effector robot, combined with web-based software application for remote tele-monitoring were evaluated at homes of participants. Inclusion criteria were: strokes > 28 days, Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA) > 10-60/66, presence of a carer and absence of medical contraindications.

Neural Interface-Based Motor Neuroprosthesis in Poststroke Upper Limb Neurorehabilitation: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of neural interface-based neurorehabilitation, including brain-computer interface, through conventional and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis and to assess clinical parameters associated with positive response to neural interface-based neurorehabilitation.

Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases up to February 2022 were reviewed.

Study Selection: Studies using neural interface-controlled physical effectors (functional electrical stimulation and/or powered exoskeletons) and reported Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper-extremity (FMA-UE) scores were identified.

Upper limb sensorimotor recovery in Asian stroke survivors: a study protocol for the development and implementation of a Technology-Assisted dIgitaL biOmaRker (TAILOR) platform.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of lifelong disability worldwide, partially driven by a reduced ability to use the upper limb in daily life causing increased dependence on caregivers. However, post-stroke functional impairments have only been investigated using limited clinical scores, during short-term longitudinal studies in relatively small patient cohorts. With the addition of technology-based assessments, we propose to complement clinical assessments with more sensitive and objective measures that could more holistically inform on upper limb impairment recovery after stroke, its impact on upper limb use in daily life, and on overall quality of life.

Rehabilitation of Older Asian Traumatic Brain Injury Inpatients: A Retrospective Study Comparing Functional Independence between Age Groups.

Across traumatic brain injury (TBI) severities, a geriatric TBI tsunami has emerged. Mixed outcomes are reported for elderly TBI with positive functional improvements with acute inpatient rehabilitation. We studied the effect of age at TBI on discharge functional outcomes, levels of independence and length of stay.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes after Primary Severe Haemorrhagic Stroke: A Retrospective Study Comparing Surgical versus Non-Surgical Management.

Background: Haemorrhagic stroke, accounting for 10-20% of all strokes, often requires decompressive surgery as a life-saving measure for cases with massive oedema and raised intracranial pressure. This study was conducted to compare the demographics, characteristics and rehabilitation profiles of patients with severe haemorrhagic stroke who were managed surgically versus those who were managed non-surgically.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective study of electronic medical records was conducted over a 3-year period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.

Characteristics and Functional Impact of Unplanned Acute Care Unit Readmissions during Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: This study investigated the incidence, characteristics and functional outcomes associated with unplanned Acute Care Unit Readmissions (ACUR) during inpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation in an Asian cohort.

Methods: A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a single rehabilitation unit was conducted from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014. Inclusion criteria were first TBI, aged >18 years, admitted <6 months of TBI.

Changing Epidemiology and Functional Outcomes of Inpatient Rehabilitation in Asian Traumatic Brain Injury Cases before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: This study aimed to compare acute injury and rehabilitation characteristics for traumatic brain injury (TBI) inpatients during the pre and post COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Methods: A retrospective study of TBI inpatients between 1 April 2018 and 31 December 2019 (pre COVID-19 period), and 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2022 (post COVID-19 period) was performed to compare demographics, premorbid comorbidity, TBI characteristics, rehabilitation complications, admission and discharge functional independence measure (FIM), length of stay and discharge status.

Results: A total of 187 data sets were analyzed (82 pre COVID-19 and 105 post COVID-19).

Versatile clinical movement analysis using statistical parametric mapping in MovementRx.

Clinical gait analysis is an important biomechanics field that is often influenced by subjectivity in time-varying analysis leading to type I and II errors. Statistical Parametric Mapping can operate on all time-varying joint dynamics simultaneously, thereby overcoming subjectivity errors. We present MovementRx, the first gait analysis modelling application that correctly models the deviations of joints kinematics and kinetics both in 3 and 1 degrees of freedom; presented with easy-to-understand color maps for clinicians with limited statistical training.

The Impact of Stroke Subtype on Recovery and Functional Outcome after Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Analysis of Factors.

The aims of this study were to compare inpatient rehabilitation outcomes between acute stroke subtypes of Cerebral Infarction (CI) and Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH), and to determine the predictors of discharge outcomes. A retrospective study of stroke inpatients was carried out using the discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) as the primary outcome measure. Relationships between stroke subtype, rehabilitation impairments, and medical complications on FIM -gain were analyzed.

Ultrasound Assessment of Changes in Muscle Architecture of the Brachialis Muscle After Stroke-A Prospective Study.

Objective: To investigate changes in ultrasound-derived muscle architecture parameters of the brachialis and correlations in patients with subacute stroke.

Design: Prospective longitudinal observational study.

Setting: Tertiary inpatient rehabilitation center.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Primary Brain Tumors after Acute Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Analyses of Factors.

Although primary brain tumors are relatively rare, they cause significant morbidity and mortality due to the high rates of neurological impairment. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical and functional outcomes of patients with primary brain tumors who had undergone inpatient rehabilitation. This was a retrospective study which recruited 163 patients who had been admitted for inpatient rehabilitation.

Changes in muscle architecture on ultrasound in patients early after stroke.

Background: Early muscle changes are believed to occur in patients with stroke. However, there are insufficient data on the changes in muscle mass and architecture of these patients.

Objectives: This study investigates differences in ultrasound-derived muscle architecture parameters of the hemiplegic upper and lower limbs in patients with subacute stroke.

Robotic Assisted Upper Limb Training Post Stroke: A Randomized Control Trial Using Combinatory Approach Toward Reducing Workforce Demands.

Post stroke upper limb rehabilitation is a challenging problem with poor outcomes as 40% of survivors have functionally useless upper limbs. Robot-aided therapy (RAT) is a potential method to alleviate the effort of intensive, task-specific, repetitive upper limb exercises for both patients and therapists. The present study aims to investigate how a time matched combinatory training scheme that incorporates conventional and RAT, using H-Man, compares with conventional training toward reducing workforce demands.

Neurorehabilitation From a Distance: Can Intelligent Technology Support Decentralized Access to Quality Therapy?

Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays and regular therapy sessions requiring close physical interactions between rehabilitation professionals and patients. The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this model, as strict physical distancing rules and a shift in the allocation of hospital resources resulted in many neurological patients not receiving essential therapy. Accordingly, a recent survey revealed that the majority of European healthcare professionals involved in stroke care are concerned that this lack of care will have a noticeable negative impact on functional outcomes.

Short-Term Effect of Peer Volunteers in Providing Inpatient Rehabilitative Exercises for Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Objective: To investigate the short-term outcomes at discharge of patients who receive additional postoperative rehabilitative exercises by peer volunteers after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary teaching hospital.

Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Spine Injection for Axial and Radicular Pain: A Single Institution Early Experience.

Study Design: Clinical audit via retrospective review of a database.

Purpose: To report an early experience using ultrasound-guided lumbar spinal injection for axial and radicular pain in an Asian multiethnic cohort.

Overview Of Literature: Ultrasound-guided spine injection therapy is a comparatively new technique in the management of axial and radicular pain from degenerative lumbar spinal conditions, which may be a reasonable alternative to conventional fluoroscopic or computed tomography-guided injection.

An Exploratory Clinical Study on an Automated, Speed-Sensing Treadmill Prototype With Partial Body Weight Support for Hemiparetic Gait Rehabilitation in Subacute and Chronic Stroke Patients.

Impairments in walking speed, capacity, and endurance are commonly seen after stroke. Treadmill training improves endurance and gait speed. However, the lack of variable training speed and automated speed progression increases the risk of backward displacement and falling.

Correction to: Advanced Robotic Therapy Integrated Centers (ARTIC): an international collaboration facilitating the application of rehabilitation technologies.

The original article [1] contains a small mistake concerning the ARTIC Team members mentioned in the Acknowledgements. The team member, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò had their name presented incorrectly. This has now been corrected in the original article.

Advanced Robotic Therapy Integrated Centers (ARTIC): an international collaboration facilitating the application of rehabilitation technologies.

Background: The application of rehabilitation robots has grown during the last decade. While meta-analyses have shown beneficial effects of robotic interventions for some patient groups, the evidence is less in others. We established the Advanced Robotic Therapy Integrated Centers (ARTIC) network with the goal of advancing the science and clinical practice of rehabilitation robotics.

The Effect of Dopaminergic Medication on Joint Kinematics during Haptic Movements in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

This study examined whether altered joint angular motion during haptic exploration could account for a decline in haptic sensitivity in individuals with PD by analyzing joint position data during haptic exploration of a curved contour. Each participant's hand was passively moved by a robotic arm along the edges of a virtual box (5 cm × 15 cm) with a curved left wall. After each trial, participants indicated whether the contour was curved or straight.