S4-2. The evaluation of brain function with neuro-rehabilitation modalities in stroke patients

The relation was investigated between functional improvement of hemiparetic arm and change of cortical perfusion (BCP) during voluntary muscle contraction (VOL), EMG-controlled FES (EMG-FES) and simple electrical muscle stimulation (ES) before and after EMG-FES therapy in chronic stroke patients. Sixteen chronic stroke patients with moderate residual hemiparesis underwent 5months of task-orientated EMG-FES therapy of the paretic arm once or twice a week. Before and after treatment, arm function was clinically evaluated and BCP during VOL, ES and EMG-FES were assessed using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy. BCP in the ipsilesional sensory-motor cortex (SMC) was greater during EMG-FES than during VOL or ES; therefore, EMG-FES caused a shift in the dominant BCP from the contralesional to ipsilesional SMC. After EMG-FES therapy, Fugl-Meyer (FM) score and maximal grip strength (GS) were improved significantly even with variability within individual patients. Clinical improvement accompanied an increase in ipsilesional SMC activation during VOL and EMG-FES condition. The EMG-FES may have more influence on ipsilesional BCP than VOL or ES alone. The sensory motor integration during EMG-FES therapy might facilitate BCP of the ipsilesional SMC and influence on brain reorganization, which result in functional improvement of hemiparetic upper extremity.
Source: Clinical Neurophysiology - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Society Proceedings Source Type: research