Neurorehabilitation and neural repair
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyBest conventional therapy versus modular impairment-oriented training for arm paresis after stroke: a single-blind, multicenter randomized controlled trial.
The study investigated whether passive splinting or active motor training as either individualized best conventional therapy or as standardized impairment-oriented training (IOT) would be superior in promoting motor recovery in subacute stroke patients with mildly or severely paretic arms. ⋯ Specificity of active training seemed more important for motor recovery than intensity (therapy time). The comprehensive modular IOT approach promoted motor recovery in patients with either severe or mild arm paresis.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Sep 2009
ReviewInterhemispheric competition after stroke: brain stimulation to enhance recovery of function of the affected hand.
Within the concept of interhemispheric competition, technical modulation of the excitability of motor areas in the contralesional and ipsilesional hemisphere has been applied in an attempt to enhance recovery of hand function following stroke. This review critically summarizes the data supporting the use of novel electrophysiological concepts in the rehabilitation of hand function after stroke. ⋯ Brain stimulation is a safe and promising tool to induce plastic changes in the cortical sensorimotor network to improve motor behavior after stroke. However, several methodological issues remain to be answered to further improve the effectiveness of these new approaches.