This study confirmed that for children with hemiplegic with cerebral palsy, bilateral arm training based on virtual reality can be an effective intervention method for enhancing the upper limb motor skills on the affected side, as well as bilateral coordination ability.

The mSTS-MCI was identified as a system with a high degree of validity and reliability. In addition, the mSTS-MCI showed high screening predictability, indicating it can be used in the clinical field as a screening test system for mild cognitive impairment.

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This study was performed to determine the changes in electromyographic activities in the shoulder and forearm muscles when using the bare hands, well-fitting gloves, and gloves that are one size smaller or one size larger for simulated assembly operations. Sixteen asymptomatic seated workers with normal hands and no obvious deformities, skin diseases, or allergies were recruited. The subjects were asked to simulate assembly operations using their bare hands, well-fitting gloves, and one size smaller or one size larger. This study showed that wearing the wrong glove size led to a decrease in forceful activation of the forearm muscle and a compensatory increase in shoulder movement. In contrast, use of the bare hands or wearing well-fitting gloves led to effective forearm muscle activation, which decreased inefficient shoulder movement. These data indicate that wearing the wrong glove size will lead to continuous inefficient use of the forearm and shoulder muscles, and result in overuse of the shoulder.

This study suggests that the CO-OP approach is beneficial effects on the occupational performance to improvement in individuals with hemiparetic stroke, and have positive effects on generalization and transfer of acquired skills.

This study confirmed that the combined therapy produces more effective improvement in corticospinal excitability, upper limb function, and performance in daily activities. The combined therapy of mental practice and modified constraint-induced movement therapy could be used as a clinically useful intervention. Implications for rehabilitation Modified constraint-induced movement therapy could be used as an intervention method for people with stroke to make improvements in the quality of movement and performance in activities of daily livings with the affected side. With additional mental practice, upper extremity functions improve, and changes in neurological, functional and performance in daily lives are greater compared to modified constraint-induced movement therapy without mental practice. Impact of mental practice has on rehabilitation should not be underestimated.

Objective/Background This study investigated the effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on muscle activity and elbow motion during arm reaching with hemiplegic arm in participants with stroke. Methods Sixteen adults with stroke who resided in a community were recruited in this study. The RAS consisted of sound emitted from a digital metronome. While sitting upright in a chair, participants reached their arms towards a target (a switch on a table) both with and without RAS. The three-dimensional motion analysis system and surface electromyography system were used for measurements during the reaching tasks. Results We found that RAS elicited better performance in reaching movements than those movements performed without RAS. RAS shortened the movement time (p = .002), reduced the change in acceleration (p = .001), increased the elbow extension range of motion (p = .001), increased muscle activation of the triceps brachii (p = .024), and reduced the co-contraction ratio (p = .015) of the affected arm. Conclusion RAS might be a useful technique to facilitate improvements in motor function of the affected arm in patients with stroke.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of electromyogram-triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) combined with task-oriented training (TOT) on upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients. Twenty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. The intervention group conducted TOT with EMG-stim on the wrist and finger extensor of the affected arm for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. The control group was provided EMG-stim for 20 minutes per day for the same duration. The intervention group exhibited significant improvement relative to the control group in muscle activation, motor recovery (Fugl-Meyer assessment) and dexterity (Box and Block Test) (p < 0.05). Significant differences in hand function between the groups were detected in the writing of short sentences and in stacking checkers (p < 0.05). It is concluded that EMG-stim in combination with TOT may be better than EMG-stim alone for the treatment of arm paresis in stroke patients. Further research with a larger sample is recommended to examine neurologic changes or cerebral cortex reorganization.