Post-stroke rehabilitation proves more effective when vibratory stimulus coincides

Researchers have found that the additional vibration stimulus increases the activity in the brain during grasping tasks, which in turn improves the patient's hand function after the therapy is completed. Photo credit: MUSC Health

Every 40 seconds a person in the US suffers a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With stroke being the leading cause of long-term disability in the country, the effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation is critical to a person's quality of life.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) found that when stroke survivors wear a wireless bracelet that sends vibrations through the arm during occupational therapy, they get more value from their sessions and improve their motor functions. As reported in a recent article published in the OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, these researchers found that the additional stimulus increased activity in the brain during grasping tasks, which in turn improved a patient's hand function after therapy was completed.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a certain area of ​​the brain is interrupted, which can lead to brain damage. Na Jin Seo, Ph.D., the paper's lead researcher and professor in the College of Health Professions at MUSC, says the main post-stroke consequences are mobility and movement problems. In 65% of stroke cases, these problems occur while using a patient's arms, which prompted her to investigate the use of a wrist device to improve current treatments.

Working with Amanda Vatinno, Ph.D., first author of the article and then a research fellow at MUSC, Seo tested the effectiveness of a wearable device called TheraBracelet on patients over the course of a 6-week therapy session.

Vatinno says it is easy to take the use of your limbs for granted - she even catches herself doing it sometimes. "But seemingly simple tasks can become so difficult after a stroke," she said. "I see people who have difficulty opening a glass or having a drink."

She says devices like the TheraBracelet can improve treatment and provide longer-lasting effects. The device works by sending imperceptible vibrations through a person's arm and down to their brain as they perform everyday tasks. The stimulus prepares the sensory cortex in the brain and prepares it for the movement ahead. Such an increase in brain activity aids in motor performance and helps patients move their arms more freely and effectively.

Vatinno says the activities they do with patients could be as simple as brushing their teeth or zipping up a jacket, both of which are regularly practiced in occupational therapy without portable technical assistance. Therapists can also help patients engage in social or sports activities, depending on what is important to the patient. "One contestant was an avid golfer," said Vatinno. "So in therapy we practiced golf swing while wearing the bracelet."

Previous work has shown that sensory stimuli before a therapy session can improve results, but with these methods, patients remained silent for 2 hours while receiving the stimulus before practicing any movement. This sedentary time was necessary for the treatment plan, and the effects subsided when the stimulation was removed.

Seo and Vatinno's study was different. "What sets it apart from traditional therapy is the special stimulation," says Vatinno. "It's wireless and you can do it yourself during therapy."

By applying the stimulation at the same time and eliminating the need for patients to sit long enough to get results, Seo hopes it will be easier to apply in clinical practice. Her method has produced longer lasting results in stroke survivors, and she hopes to continue evaluating its effectiveness. She needs to determine if a treatment deadline is needed to avoid desensitizing patients and she would like more information about how long treatment is going to take. Ultimately, she believes that better treatments will help people regain their independence and improve their quality of life.

FDA approves first device for nerve stimulation to aid stroke recovery More information: Amanda A. Vatinno et al., Using Vibrational Stimulation Below Threshold During Rehabilitation Therapy After Stroke: A Case Series, OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health (2021). DOI: 10.1177 / 15394492211042275 Provided by the Medical University of South Carolina

Quote: Rehabilitation after a stroke proves to be more effective when the vibration stimulus coincides (2021, October 18), accessed on October 18, 2021 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-post-stroke-effective- vibratory-stimulus-coincides.html

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