Robotic treatment of the upper limb in chronic stroke and cerebral neuroplasticity: a systematic review.

Robotic treatment of the upper limb in chronic stroke and cerebral neuroplasticity: a systematic review. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2020 Sep-Oct;34(5 Suppl. 3):11-44. Technology in Medicine Authors: Bressi F, Bravi M, Campagnola B, Bruno D, Marzolla A, Santacaterina F, Miccinilli S, Sterzi S Abstract Stroke is the second cause of mortality and the third cause of long-term disability worldwide. Deficits in upper limb (UL) capacity persist at 6 months post-stroke in 30-66% of hemiplegic stroke patients with major limitations in activity of daily living (ADL), thus making the recovery of paretic UL function the main rehabilitation goal. Robotic rehabilitation plays a crucial role since it allows to perform a repetitive, intensive, and task-oriented treatment, adaptable to the patients' residual abilities, necessary to facilitate recovery and the rehabilitation of the paretic UL. It has been proposed that robot-mediated training may amplify neuroplasticity by providing a major interaction of proprioceptive and/or other sensory inputs with motor outputs, with significant modifications in functional connectivity (coherence) within the fronto-parietal networks (inter- and intra-hemispheric functional connectivity) related to processes of movement preparation and execution. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this reorganization are not entirely clear yet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to revise the literature, whic...
Source: Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents - Category: Biomedical Science Tags: J Biol Regul Homeost Agents Source Type: research