Combination of Brain-Computer Interface Training and Goal Directed Physical Therapy in Chronic Stroke: A Case Report
By Broetz, Doris; Braun, Christoph; Weber, Cornelia; Soekadar, Surjo R.; Caria, Andrea; Birbaumer, Niels; Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 24, No. 7, pp. 674-679Publication Date: September 2010
Paper describes a therapeutic approach using a combination of brain-computer interface (BCI) training and a goal-oriented active physical therapy adapted to the BCI training to transfer rehabilitation of hand movement from the lab to the social environment of a patient with chronic stroke. A 67-year-old hemiplegic male patient with chronic stroke and no active finger extension was trained with a BCI combined with a specific daily-life oriented physiotherapy. The BCI used electrical brain activity (EEG) and magnetic brain activity (MEG) to drive an orthosis and a robot affixed to the patient’s affected upper extremity, which enabled him to move the paralyzed arm and hand driven by voluntary modulation of Mu-rhythm activity. In addition, the patient practiced goal directed physiotherapy training. Over one year, he completed 3 training blocks. Arm motor function, gait capacities measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Wolf Motor Function Test, Modified Ashworth Scale, 10 meter walk speed, and goal attainment score, and brain reorganization measured with functional MRI and MEG were repeatedly assessed. The ability of hand and arm movements as well as speed and safety of gait improved significantly. Improvement of motor function was associated with increased Mu-oscillations in the ipsilesional motor cortex.
Published by: Sage Publications (Website:http://www.sagepub.com)
American Society of Neurorehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.asnr.com )
Link to text: http://nnr.sagepub.com/content/24/7/674.abstract
