Combination of Force Control Training and Mirror Visual Feedback Device on Stroke Patients on Brain Activation and Hand Function

Integration of Force Control Training and Mirror Visual Feedback on Stroke Patients on Brain Activation and Hand Function

Global elderly population continues to grow. Among the diseases caused by aging, stroke accounts for the highest incidence, and the number of stroke patient is increasing year-by-year. Stroke is a common central nervous system disorder, including infarcts and hemorrhagic strokes. It develops rapidly and causes a wide range of neurological deficits. Clinical manifestations vary depending on the location of the brain damage. Common features include hemiplegia and paresthesia, which may be accompanied by incoordination and speech impairments. This leads to decreased independence in daily life, negatively impacting the quality of life and causing stress for patients and their families.

Hand movements are crucial for 70% of daily activities, yet only approximately 15% of patients can regain normal hand movements. Therefore, hand movement restoration is a key focus of rehabilitation. Previous studies have found that finger pressure training using a hand force control system (Tipr) can improve hand and cognitive function in older adults. However, no studies have examined the effectiveness of this hand force control system in the hemiplegic hand of stroke patients. Mirror therapy, a hand training technique used in stroke rehabilitation, has been shown to improve the function of the hemiplegic limb in stroke patients. However, there are currently no studies examining the application of force control in mirror therapy. Therefore, this study aims to explore and develop a hand rehabilitation method that combines the different compression patterns provided by the hand training system (Tipr) with a mirror training device. By incorporating the mirror's visual feedback of the contralateral limb, the application of the hand training system will be expanded. Non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRs) will be used to assess user brain activation and changes in hand function. This study will investigate user feedback on this rehabilitation method and explore whether force control training can induce bilateral brain interactions and their impact on hand function. The goal is to commercialize this innovative treatment approach for clinical evaluation and training applications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Age 20 or older and not participating in any other experimental studies during the study period.
• 2. Patients diagnosed with unilateral cerebral embolism or intracerebral hemorrhage.
• 3. Scores on the Fogel-Meyer Motor Scale-Upper Limb between 20 and 66 (scores indicate poor to full motor function on the affected upper limb), or Brunnstrom stage II or higher for both the proximal and distal upper limbs.
• 4. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, based on educational level: at least 16 for those with no education, at least 21 for those with elementary school education, and at least 24 for those with junior high school education or higher.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Patients with unilateral cerebral hemisphere damage as diagnosed by CT scan.
• 2. Upper limb joint deformity, history of complex or major hand surgery on one hand, or severe hand arthritis.
• 3. Any visual or hearing impairment that would affect experimental performance or prevent compliance with experimental instructions.
• 4. Patients with severe hemispheric neglect.
• 5. Aphasia, which makes it difficult to understand or respond to multiple written or spoken instructions.
• 6. Other factors that may affect participation in the experiment, such as body part loss.