Variation of Muscle Coactivation Patterns in Chronic Stroke During Robot-Assisted Elbow Training
By Hu, Xiaoling; Tong, Kai Y.; Song, Rong; Tsang, Vincent S.; Leung, Penny O.; Li, Le; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 88, pp. 1022-1029Publication Date: August 2007
Investigation of the variation of muscle co-activation patterns during the course of robot-assisted rehabilitation on elbow flexion and extension for persons with chronic stroke. Recent studies suggest that intensive therapeutic interventions, such as constraint-induced movement therapy and task-relevant repetitive practice of the affected limb, can help to significantly reduce motor impairment and improve functional use of the limb in persons with chronic stroke. Seven hemiplegic participants, at least one year post onset of stroke, received 20 sessions of robot-assisted elbow training during 7 consecutive weeks. The robotic system consisted of a Dynaserv motor, an AKV-205A torque sensor and a manipulandum, with a belt to keep the shoulder joint still during elbow extension and flexion. For monitoring, electromyographic electrode pairs were fastened to the surface of participants’ biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and anterior and posterior deltoid muscles. At the end of the study, significant motor improvements, assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Motor Status Scale (MSS), were observed. Implications for future, larger-scale clinical studies are briefly discussed.
Published by: W.B. Saunders Company, a division of Elsevier Health Sciences (Website:http://us.elsevierhealth.com)
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.aapmr.org/ )
American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.acrm.org )
