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Sensor-based technology for upper limb rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial

M. Tramontano, G. Morone, S. De Angelis, Laura Casagrande Conti, Giovanni Galeoto, Maria Grazia Grasso

Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 2020

25 citations

Abstract

Background: Sensor-based technological therapy devices may be good candidates for neuromotor rehabilitation of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), especially for treating upper extremities function limitations. The sensor-based device rehabilitation is characterized by interactive therapy games with audio-visual feedback that allows training the movement of shoulders, elbows, and wrist, measuring the strength and the active range of motion of upper limb, registering data in an electronic database to quantitatively monitoring measures and therapy progress. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of sensor-based motor rehabilitation in add-on to the conventional neurorehabilitation, on increasing the upper limb functions of patients with MS. Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. The training consisting of twelve sessions of upper limb training was compared with twelve sessions of upper limb sensory-motor training, without robotic support. Both rehabilitation programs were performed for 40 minutes three times a week, for 4 weeks, in addition to conventional therapy. All patients were evaluated at the baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks of training (T1). Results: The within-subject analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in both groups, in the Modified Barthel Index and in the Rivermead Mobility Index scores and a significant improvement in Multiple Sclerosis Quality…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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