Somatosensory & motor research
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Kinect-based virtual reality game training on upper extremity motor recovery in chronic stroke.
Therapeutic benefits of Kinect-based virtual reality (VR) game training in rehabilitation encourage its use to improve motor function. ⋯ To conclude, our results suggest that the adjunct use of Kinect-based VR training may contribute to the improvement of UE motor function and AROM in chronic stroke patients. Further studies with a larger number of subjects with longer follow-up periods are needed to establish its effectiveness in neurorehabilitation.
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We examined the relation between the results of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) for the corticospinal tract (CST) in chronic hemiparetic patients with a middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarct. The amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP) was closely related to the FN of the CST on DTT in chronic hemiparetic patients with an MCA infarct. We believe that our results would be helpful in more precise estimation of the CST.
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This study aimed to compare the reliability and magnitude of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) by applying different test stimuli (TS) and conditioning stimuli (CS). Twenty-six healthy male participants were recruited in the study of two identical sessions. In each session, four TS (electrical, heat, handheld, and cuff pressure algometry) were applied before and during CS (cold pressor test (CPT) or cuff algometry). ⋯ Significant CPM effects were found for all combinations, except the combinations of electrical and heat pain thresholds with cuff CS, which indicates the novel classification of the CPM mechanism. The combinations of handheld pressure and heat pain threshold with CPT would provide the minimum sample size to detect the significant CPM changes in further studies. It is beneficial to provide and compare both ICC and CV to design further clinical trials.
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This study investigated whether itch induced by intra-epidermal histamine is subjected to modulation by a standardized conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm in 24 healthy volunteers. CPM was induced by computer-controlled cuff pressure algometry and histamine was introduced to the volar forearm by skin prick test punctures. Moreover, neurogenic inflammation and wheal reactions induced by histamine and autonomic nervous system responses (heart rate variability and skin conductance) were monitored. CPM did not modulate the intensity of histamine-induced itch suggesting that pruriceptive signaling is not inhibited by pain-recruited endogenous modulation, however, CPM was found to aggravate histamine-induced neurogenic inflammation, likely facilitated by efferent sympathetic fibers.
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Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is a significant public health problem in the USA. The complexity of CLBP necessitates an assessment tool that can objectively evaluate the aspects of CLBP that lead to disability. Here we present a novel means by which to provide pressure stimuli to the lumbar spine through the use of an electro-pneumatic circuit that can be used in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology to assess the cortical activity changes associated with CLBP. ⋯ This project has successfully developed a device that can deliver a reliable and reproducible stimulus over the lumbar spine that mimics the palpatory technique used in clinical practice, and can be used in conjunction with fMRI to assess cortical response.