Improvement of grasping after motor imagery in C6-C7 tetraplegia: A kinematic and MEG pilot study

Abstract

These findings provide further support for the use of MI to reinforce a compensatory grasping movement (tenodesis) and induce brain plasticity.

Motor imagery reinforces brain compensation of reach-to-grasp movement after cervical spinal cord injury

“…We thus included 10 studies involving five single case (Pfurtscheller et al, 2000 ; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ; Grangeon et al, 2010 , 2012a ; Rohm et al, 2013 ), two case series (Onose et al, 2012 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ) and three control cases (Cramer et al, 2007 ; Di Rienzo et al, 2014c ; Mateo et al, 2015b ). We scored the quality of these studies using the Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) scale (Tate et al, 2008 ), the 3 min critical appraisal for case series (Chan and Bhandari, 2011 ) and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (Maher et al, 2003 ; de Morton, 2009 ).…”

“…All participants were at a chronic stage (mean = 31 months after SCI 3.5–84) with the exception of two who were included 3 and 4 months after SCI (Vučković et al, 2015 ). Furthermore, all studies included participants with complete motor lesion AIS A or B, except the article by Onose et al ( 2012 ), which included two participants with AIS C. MI vividness was on average self-rated at 3.6/5 (from 3.3–4.1) and 3.3/5 (from 2.2–3.8) for visual and kinesthetic MI modalities, respectively (Grangeon et al, 2012a ; Di Rienzo et al, 2014c ; Mateo et al, 2015b ; Vučković et al, 2015 ).…”

“…MI intervention effects were assessed through clinical and kinematic outcomes, along with changes in brain activity. These include: (i) passive range of motion measured with a goniometer (Grangeon et al, 2010 ); (ii) muscle strength assessed by the Manual Muscle Test (Grangeon et al, 2010 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ); (iii) manual dexterity outcome using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), the Block and Box Test (BBT; Grangeon et al, 2012a ) and the Grasp and Release Test (GRT; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ); and (iv) kinematic outcomes during reaching and reach-to-grasp movements including temporal parameters e.g., movement time (MT) and spatial parameters e.g., trajectory, joint motion, wrist extension angle during grasping (Grangeon et al, 2010 , 2012a ; Mateo et al, 2015b ). In addition, outcomes of grasping effectiveness have also been done using a BCI device controlled by MI (Pfurtscheller et al, 2000 ; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ; Onose et al, 2012 ; Rohm et al, 2013 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ).…”

“…In addition, outcomes of grasping effectiveness have also been done using a BCI device controlled by MI (Pfurtscheller et al, 2000 ; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ; Onose et al, 2012 ; Rohm et al, 2013 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ). Finally, 8 studies investigated brain activity changes in response to MI using electroencephalography (EEG; Pfurtscheller et al, 2000 ; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ; Onose et al, 2012 ; Rohm et al, 2013 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; Cramer et al, 2007 ) or magnetoencephalagraphy (MEG; Di Rienzo et al, 2014c ; Mateo et al, 2015b ).…”

“…The mean number of MI sessions was 14 (range from 3–43) over 10 weeks (range from 0.4–52). Practice before MI consisted of video observation (Cramer et al, 2007 ; Onose et al, 2012 ) or PP with a crossover design (Grangeon et al, 2010 ) and without crossover (Grangeon et al, 2012a ; Di Rienzo et al, 2014c ; Mateo et al, 2015b ). Conversely, there was no practice before MI in the other studies (Pfurtscheller et al, 2000 ; Müller-Putz et al, 2005 ; Cramer et al, 2007 ; Rohm et al, 2013 ; Vučković et al, 2015 ).…”