Rehabilitation of the Arm Motor Function in Poststroke Patients with an Exoskeleton-Controlling Brain: Computer Interface: Effect of Repeated Hospitalizations

摘要

A brain–computer interface (BCI) used to control a hand exoskeleton provides a tool for rehabilitation of the arm motor function (MF) after stroke and has proven efficacy and a potential to stimulate brain neuroplasticity. A study was made to analyze the effect of repeated rehabilitation courses with a BCI + exoskeleton (2 to 9 months after the first course) on the MF restoration in the late recovery period. MF recovery was assessed using a biomechanical analysis of the patient’s movements and clinical scales: the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the Medical Research Council Weakness Scale sum score (MRC-SS). A positive effect of repeated rehabilitation courses with a BCI + exoskeleton on the MF recovery was observed in both patients with moderate paresis in the late recovery period and patients with severe paresis. The data may be useful for developing an appropriate protocol for the rehabilitation procedures that employ the exoskeleton controlled via a BCI with kinesthetic imagination of movements.