Short-Term Effect of Prosthesis Transforming Sensory Modalities on Walking in Stroke Patients with Hemiparesis

• Published in: Journal of neural transplantation & plasticity Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Ishiguro, Akio, Honda, Keita, Sekiguchi, Yusuke, Owaki, Dai, Izumi, Shin-Ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2016; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Ankle Joint - physiopathology; Biofeedback training; Comparative analysis; Electromyography - methods; Feedback; Feedback, Sensory - physiology; Female; Foot - physiopathology; Gait; Hemiplegia; Humans; Implants, Artificial; Kinematics; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Paralysis; Paresis - physiopathology; Physical therapy; Prostheses; Prostheses and Implants; Prosthesis; Rehabilitation; Sensors; Short term; Software; Stroke; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke - therapy; Stroke patients; Time Factors; Vertebrae; Walking; Walking - physiology; Wireless communications; Japan
• ISSN: 2090-5904; 0792-8483; 1687-5443
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/6809879

Sensory impairments caused by neurological or physical disorders hamper kinesthesia, making rehabilitation difficult. In order to overcome this problem, we proposed and developed a novel biofeedback prosthesis called Auditory Foot for transforming sensory modalities, in which the sensor prosthesis transforms plantar sensations to auditory feedback signals. This study investigated the short-term effect of the auditory feedback prosthesis on walking in stroke patients with hemiparesis. To evaluate the effect, we compared four conditions of auditory feedback from plantar sensors at the heel and fifth metatarsal. We found significant differences in the maximum hip extension angle and ankle plantar flexor moment on the affected side during the stance phase, between conditions with and without auditory feedback signals. These results indicate that our sensory prosthesis could enhance walking performance in stroke patients with hemiparesis, resulting in effective short-term rehabilitation.