Task-specific, patient-driven neuroprosthesis training in chronic stroke: results of a 3-week clinical study.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the efficacy of a clinically based regimen in which a woman 16 months' poststroke participated in daily practice sessions of valued activities of daily living (ADLs). A unique aspect of this intervention was that it was largely patient driven, with the patient practicing ADLs while wearing an electrical stimulation neuroprosthesis.

METHOD: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), Action Research Arm Test (ARA), Arm Motor Activity Test (AMAT), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) were administered before intervention. Therapy consisted of 3-hr ADL training sessions every weekday during a 3-week period using a neuroprosthesis featuring functional electrical stimulation during treatment sessions. One week after the end of the treatment phase, the FM, ARA, AMAT, and COPM were again administered.

RESULTS

The patient exhibited reduced impairment (FM score change from 31 to 35), decreased time needed to complete AMAT tasks (from 998 s to 558 s), and increased ARA score (from 27 to 31).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically meaningful changes were realized with distant or minimal therapist supervision, making this regimen a practical and efficacious alternative.