NCT02971371

The Role of MNS in Improving Motor Performance

The Role of Mirror Neuron System in Improving Motor Performance by Using Virtual Reality, as Revealed by EEG: a Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Many studies have demonstrated the usefulness of repetitive task practice by using robotic devices, including Lokomat, for the treatment of lower limb paresis. Virtual reality (VR) has proved to be a valuable tool to improve neurorehabilitation training. Our pilot randomized clinical trial aimed at evaluating the correlation between the modifications of brain oscillations during a VR neurorehabilitative training of gait and the motor function recovery in patients with chronic stroke. Twenty-four patients suffering from a first unilateral ischemic stroke in the chronic phase were randomized into two groups. One group performed 40 sessions of Lokomat with VR (RAGT+VR) whereas the other group underwent Lokomat without VR (RAGT-VR). Outcomes (clinical, kinematic, and event-related synchronization, ERS, and desynchronization, ERD, at the EEG) were measured before and after the robotic intervention. The robotic-based rehabilitation combined with VR could be associated with improvements in several measurements of lower limb function, gait, and balance in patient with chronic hemiparesis. Moreover, ERS/ERD analysis can be proposed as a tool to monitor motor performance and to develop non-invasive brain-computer interfaces controlling robotic devices.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Lokomat	Both the groups performed 40 45min Lokomat sessions, five times a week, between 9am and 11am. The "RAGT"and "VR" group received a visual feedback showing a VR run game where the patient had to collect or avoid objects, to motivate him/her to walk actively. Each avatar's leg movement corresponded to that performed by the patient. On the other hand, the "RAGT" without "VR" group was not provided an avatar, and a smile indicating the goodness of each leg movement. The biofeedback of the Lokomat gait orthosis is based on the interaction torques between the participant and the orthosis

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-10-01
• Primary completion: 2016-02-01
• Completion: 2016-02-01
• First posted: 2016-11-22
• Last updated: 2016-11-22