Efectos de la espasticidad en la recuperación motora posterior a un ACV / Effects of spasticity on motor recovery after a stroke

Resumen Antecedentes: el proceso rehabilitador orientado a la recuperación motora posterior a un Ataque Cerebro Vascular (ACV), es un proceso complejo asociado con la aparición de signos positivos y negativos posterior a un daño de moto neurona superior (MNS). Objetivo: describir cuales son las efectos de la espasticidad en el proceso rehabilitador posterior a un ACV. Material y método: se realizó una revisión narrativa, a través de un plan de búsqueda por parte de tres revisores, explorando la base de datos PubMed, donde se utilizaron los términos MesH: Spasticity AND Motor Recovery AND Stroke, los límites de búsqueda fueron revisiones y ensayos clínicos en humanos y animales, publicados en los últimos 10 años con textos completos en inglés y español. Resultado: 71 artículos que cumplían con los criterios de búsqueda, fueron identificados, se seleccionaron 21 (16 ensayos clínicos y 5 revisiones), los que fueron analizados a través de las guías Caspe y se utilizaron para la confección de esta revisión. Conclusión: si bien existe amplia evidencia científica, esta no es concluyente, planteando que la espasticidad es fuente de compromiso funcional y discapacidad, pero no siempre es perjudicial, ya sus efectos pueden ser beneficiosos y en ocasiones no necesita tratamiento.

Background and Aim: The rehabilitation process oriented to motor recovery after a stroke is a complex process associated with the appearance of positive and negative signs after motor neuron damage. The aim was to describe the effects of spasticity in the rehabilitation process after a stroke. Methods: Three reviewers, exploring the PubMed database, carried out, a narrative review through a search plan, the terms MesH: Spasticity AND Motor Recovery AND Stroke were used; the search limits were reviews and clinical trials in humans and animals, published in the last 10 years with full texts in English and Spanish. Results: Seventy-one articles that met the search criteria were identified, 21 were selected (16 clinical trials and 5 reviews), which were analyzed through the CASPE guide and used for the preparation of this review. Conclusion: Although there is broad scientific evidence, this is not conclusive, stating that spasticity is a source of functional commitment and disability, but it is not always harmful, and its effects can be beneficial and sometimes do not need treatment.

Low-Level Laser Irradiation Improves Motor Recovery After Contusive Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the recovery of motor function and its underlying mechanisms in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord was contused at the T11 level using a New York University impactor. Thirty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups: LLLI with 0.08 J, 0.4 J, 0.8 J, and sham. We transcutaneously applied at the lesion site of the spinal contusive rats 5 min after injury and then daily for 21 days. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale and combined behavioral score (CBS) were used to evaluate motor function. The spinal segments of rostral and caudal from the lesion site, the epicenter, and L4–5 were collected from normal and the all groups at 7 days after SCI. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was compared across groups in all regions. In the present study, LLLI with 0.4 J and 0.8 J led to a significant improvement in motor function compared to sham LLLI, which significantly decreased TNF-α expression at the lesion epicenter and reduced iNOS expression in the caudal segment for all LLLI groups and in the L4–5 segments for the 0.4 J and 0.8 J groups when compared to sham LLLI group. Our results demonstrate that transcutaneous LLLI modulate inflammatory mediators to enhance motor function recovery after SCI. Thus, LLLI in acute phase after SCI might have therapeutic potential for neuroprotection and restoration of motor function following SCI.

Estimulación térmica para la recuperación motora pos accidente cerebrovascular: revisión sistemática / Thermal Stimulation to motor recovery after stroke; Systematic Review

Objetivo: determinar si existe evidencia científica que avale la efectividad de la estimulación térmica (ET) en la recuperación de la función motora, cuando se adiciona a un tratamiento convencional en pacientes pos accidente cerebrovascular (ACV). Estratégia de búsqueda: se incluyeron en la búsqueda estudios clínicos aleatorizados, las bases de datos usadas fueron: Medline, PEDro, Lilacs, Central, Cinahl y Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine Source. Selección de estudios: se seleccionaron cinco artículos que cumplían con nuestros criterios de elegibilidad y se evaluó el riesgo de sesgo según el método de Cochrane. Síntesis de resultados: todos los estudios muestran que la ET en combinación a un programa de rehabilitación física mejora significativamente (p<0,05) a corto plazo el movimiento y función. Conclusión: en pacientes con ACV agudo moderado a severo, existe evidencia a corto plazo que adicionar ET a un programa de rehabilitación física convencional facilita la recuperación motora comparado con un programa de visita.

Aim: Determine if there is scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of Thermal Stimulation (TS) on recovery of motor function, when added to conventional therapy in patients with stroke. search strategy: Included only Randomized Clinical Trials, databases were used: Medline, PEDro, Lilacs, Central, Cinahl and Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine Source. Selection of Studies: Five studies that met our eligibility criteria and the risk of bias are evaluated according to the method of Cochrane. Summary of results: All studies show that TS in combination to a physical rehabilitation program significantly improved (p <0.05) in the short-term movement and function. Conclusion: In acute stroke patients with moderate to severe, there is evidence that short-term TS added to a conventional physical rehabilitation program facilitate motor recovery compared to a visit program.

Prediction of Motor Recovery Using Quantitative Parameters of Motor Evoked Potential in Patients With Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of quantitative parameters in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEP) which can be adopted to predict functional recovery of the upper limb in stroke patients in the early subacute phase. METHODS: One hundred thirteen patients (61 men, 52 women; mean age 57.8±12.2 years) who suffered faiarst-ever stroke were included in this study. All participants underwent TMS-induced MEP session to assess the corticospinal excitability of both hand motor cortices within 3 weeks after stroke onset. After the resting motor threshold (rMT) was assessed, five sweeps of MEP were performed, and the mean amplitude of the MEP was measured. Latency of MEP, volume of the MEP output curve, recruitment ratios, and intracortical inhibition and facilitation were also measured. Motor function was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale (FMA) within 3 weeks and at 3 months after stroke onset. Correlation analysis was performed between TMS-induced MEP derived measures and FMA scores. RESULTS: In the MEP response group, rMT and rMT ratio measures within 3 weeks after stroke onset showed a significant negative correlation with the total and upper limb FMA scores at 3 months after stroke (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that FMA score and rMT ratio, but not rMT within 3 weeks were independent prognostic factors for FMA scores at 3 months after stroke. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the quantitative parameter of TMS-induced MEP, especially rMT ratio in the early subacute phase, could be used as a parameter to predict motor function in patients with stroke.

Prediction of Motor Recovery Using Diffusion Tensor Tractography in Supratentorial Stroke Patients With Severe Motor Involvement

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether early stage diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) values predict motor function at 3 months after onset in supratentorial stroke patients with severe motor involvement. METHODS: A retrospective study design was used to analyze medical records and neuroimaging data of 49 supratentorial stroke patients with severe motor involvement. Diffusion tensor imaging was assessed within 3 weeks after stroke in all patients. Three-dimensional tractography of the ipsilateral corticospinal tract (CST) was performed using the fiber assignment of the continuous tracking algorithm. The two-step DTT analysis was used. The first step was classification according to ipsilateral CST visualization. The second step was a quantitative analysis of the visible-CST group parameters. Motor function was assessed at 2 weeks and at 3 months after stroke. Comparative and correlation analyses were performed between DTT-derived measures and motor assessment scores. RESULTS: Motor function of the upper extremity at 3 months after stroke was significantly higher in the visible-CST group than that in the nonvisible-CST group (p<0.05). Early stage fractional anisotropy was of DTT correlated significantly with upper extremity motor function at 3 months after stroke in the visible-CST group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that early DTT-derived measures predict motor recovery in the upper extremity at 3 months after onset in supratentorial stroke patients with severe motor involvement.

Respuesta eléctrica de la corteza contralateral al área de infarto en pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica / Electric response of the contralateral cortex to the myocardial infarction area in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo de 28 pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica, ingresados en el Servicio de Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares del Hospital General Docente "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre del 2011, con vistas a evaluar la respuesta eléctrica de la corteza cerebral contralateral al área de infarto y su papel en la recuperación motora de los afectados hemipléjicos por la lesión. La valoración de la actividad eléctrica se efectuó mediante el análisis cuantitativo del electroencefalograma digital y la de la recuperación funcional, por el índice de Barthel. En la serie la edad media fue de 67,2 años ± 2, predominó el sexo masculino y todos los pacientes presentaron alteración de la actividad eléctrica cortical, de los cuales, 39,3 % la manifestaba en el hemisferio contralateral al área de infarto, con una peor recuperación motora a los 6 meses de evolución. Por último, la afectación eléctrica de la corteza cerebral contralateral al área de infarto constituye una manifestación observada frecuentemente en pacientes con enfermedades cerebrovasculares isquémicas, lo que influye de manera negativa en su recuperación motora.

An observational, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study of 28 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, admitted in the Cerebrovascular Diseases Service of "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba was carried out from January to December, 2011, with the objective of evaluating the electric response from the contralateral cerebral cortex to the myocardial infarction area and its role in the motor recovery of the affected hemiplegic patients. The evaluation of the electric activity was made by means of the quantitative analysis of the digital electroencephalogram, and that of the functional recovery through the Barthel index. In the series the mean age was of 67.2 years ± 2, the male sex prevailed and all the patients presented changes of the electrical cortical activity, of which, 39.3% manifested it in the contralateral hemisphere to the myocardial infarction area, with a worse motor recovery after 6 months of the clinical course. Lastly, the electric damage of the contralateral cerebral cortex to the myocardial infarction area constitutes a frequently observed manifestation in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, what influences in a negative way in their motor recovery.

Comparison of the Effects of 1 Hz and 20 Hz rTMS on Motor Recovery in Subacute Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To compare the low frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with high frequency (20 Hz) rTMS on motor functional improvement of the affected upper extremity in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Forty patients with subacute ischemic stroke participated in this study. The first group received 10 sessions of 20 Hz rTMS at ipsilesional M1 area and the other group received 10 sessions of 1 Hz rTMS at contralesional M1 area. Motor training of the hemiparetic hand was conducted after each rTMS train. All the patients received conventional occupational therapy immediately after each rTMS session. Manual function test (MFT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale (FMS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Brunnstrom recovery stage, and grip strength were used to assess motor function before, at the end of, and one month after the last session of rTMS. RESULTS: No adverse side effects were reported during the course of the experiment using rTMS. No significant difference in motor function of the affected upper extremity was observed between the two groups before rTMS. Significant improvements in MFT, FMS, MBI, and Brunnstrom stage were observed in the both groups at the end of the last rTMS session and one month later (p0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in motor function of the affected upper extremity between 1 Hz and 20 Hz rTMS during the subacute period of ischemic stroke. Thus, we cannot conclude which has a greater effect.

Research Status of Corticospinal Tract on Motor Function Recovery after Stroke (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

Corticospinal tract (CST) is the major neuronal pathway that mediates voluntary movements. This article reviewed the litera-ture related to the role of the CST in motor recovery in stroke patients with respect to the following:recovery of a damaged CST, perilesion-al reorganization at the subcortical level, perilesional reorganization at the cortex level, the ipsilateral motor pathway from the affected hemi-sphere to the affected extremities, and locomotor recovery.

Research Status of Corticospinal Tract on Motor Function Recovery after Stroke (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Corticospinal tract (CST) is the major neuronal pathway that mediates voluntary movements. This article reviewed the literature related to the role of the CST in motor recovery in stroke patients with respect to the following: recovery of a damaged CST, perilesional reorganization at the subcortical level, perilesional reorganization at the cortex level, the ipsilateral motor pathway from the affected hemisphere to the affected extremities, and locomotor recovery.

Recuperación motora y funcional en pacientes con afasia secundaria a un ictus / Motor and functional recovery in patients with aphasia secondary to stroke

Introducción: se realizó un estudio observacional y prospectivo. Objetivo: evaluar la recuperación motora y funcional en pacientes con afasia secundaria a un ictus, incorporados al Programa de Restauración Neurológica del Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica. Métodos: se estudiaron 132 pacientes durante los años 2007-2012, en tratamiento durante 4 sem. Se agruparon según la presencia o no de afasia. Se compararon ambos grupos, según la recuperación motora y funcional, mediante la Escala Escandinava del Ictus y el índice de Barthel, respectivamente. Resultados: los grupos estudiados no presentaron diferencias significativas en cuanto a edad, sexo, condición motora y funcional inicial, tiempo de evolución y factores de riesgo vascular. La recuperación motora resultó significativa en ambos grupos (p=0,00), aunque el porcentaje de recuperación motora resultó superior en los pacientes con ictus no afásicos. La recuperación funcional resultó significativa en ambos grupos (p=0,00), existió una recuperación cualitativamente superior en el ictus no afásico donde se identificó una mejora en las habilidades manipulativas (p=0,00), que no resultó significativa en el ictus con afasia. Conclusión: ambos grupos se beneficiaron con el tratamiento aplicado, sin embargo, los pacientes afásicos experimentaron menor recuperación motora y funcional, en comparación con los pacientes no afásicos

Introduction: an observational and prospective study was carried out. Objective: to evaluate motor and functional recovery in patients with aphasia secondary to a stroke, who were included in the Neurological Restoration Program of International Center of Neurological Restoration. Methods: 132 patients were studied from 2007 to 2012; they were in treatment during 4 weeks and they were grouped according to the presence or absence of aphasia. Comparisons between both groups were carried out according to their motor and functional recovery by using Scandinavian Stroke Scale and Barthel Index respectively. Results: significant differences were not found in the studied groups concerning age, sex, motor and functional initial conditions, evolution time and vascular risk factors. Motor recovery was significant in both groups (p=0,00), although motor recovery percent was higher in the patients with non aphasic stroke. Functional recovery was significant in both groups (p=0,00), a higher quality recovery was seen in non aphasic stroke patients, and improvement was identified in hand abilities (p=0,00) which was not significant in stroke with aphasia. Conclusion: both groups were benefitted with the applied treatment, however, the aphasic patients experienced a lower motor and functional recovery, in comparison with the non aphasic patients

La neurorrehabilitación como alternativa esencial en el abordaje terapéutico de las ataxias cerebelosas / Neurorehabilitation as an essential alternative in the therapeutic approach to cerebellar ataxias

Introducción: la ataxia cerebelosa constituye uno de los trastornos motores más complejos asociada a enfermedades neurológicas. Objetivo: destacar la efectividad de la neurorrehabilitación en la reducción del deterioro de las funciones motoras en pacientes atáxicos. Fuente de datos: revisión de la literatura publicada sin límite de fecha y hasta septiembre del 2012, en las bases de datos MedLine, Embase, Hinari, Lilacs y SciELO; estrategia de búsqueda con vocabulario controlado y la inclusión de las siguientes palabras clave: ataxia, neurorrehabilitación, recuperación motora. Se tomaron los criterios de especialistas en neurorrehabilitación del Centro internacional de Restauración Neurológica. Resultados: la terapia física es el factor esencial del proceso de rehabilitación en los pacientes con ataxia, incluye adiestramiento, ejercicios y manipulación física del cuerpo del paciente con la intención de restaurar el movimiento, el equilibrio y la coordinación. Las estrategias terapéuticas en los pacientes con ataxia cerebelosa requieren un enfoque intensivo e interdisciplinario. La recuperación motora en ellos está muy relacionada con el incremento de la capacidad de fuerza después de la aplicación de programas de rehabilitación. En la medida en que aumentan los niveles de fuerza, comienzan a aparecer signos de recuperación en el comportamiento motor, desde actividades tan simples como realizar transferencias de una posición a otra, hasta las más complejas, como es caminar. Conclusiones: el comportamiento motor de los pacientes con ataxia cerebelosa se modifica significativamente con el empleo de la neurorrehabilitación, con registro de mejorías notables en los trastornos de la postura y la marcha, el movimiento y la fuerza

Introduction: cerebellar ataxia is one of the most complex motor impairments derived from neurological diseases. Objective: to highlight the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation of the motor functions in patients with cerebellar ataxia. Data source: systematic literature review of documents published up to September 2012 in MEDLINE, EMBASE, HINARI LILACS and SciELO, search strategy using controlled vocabulary and the keywords ataxia, neurorehabilitation and motor recovery. Several criteria from specialists in neurorehabilitation in the International Center of Neurological Restoration were consulted in and taken into consideration. Results: the physical therapy is the essential factor of the rehabilitation process for ataxic patients and includes training, exercising and physical handling of the patient's body aimed at recovering movement, balance and coordination. The therapeutic strategies for patients with cerebellar ataxia require an intensive and interdisciplinary approach. Motor function recovery was very much related to significant strength increase after implementation of the rehab program. As the strength levels rise, there begins to appear signs of recovery in the patient's motor behavior that covers moving from one position to another including turning up to the most complex ones like walking. Conclusions: the motor behavior of patients suffering cerebellar ataxia can be significantly modified with neurorehabilitation, leading to significant reduction on posture, gait, movement and strength impairments

The effects of body-weight-supported treadmill training on peak moment of lower limb in early stage of stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the outcome of body-weight-supported treadmill training on the kinetic data of lower limb in early stage of stroke.Methods Twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke patients at early stage were recruited and randomized to an experimental group(n =15) and a control group (n =12).Both groups were administered with routine neurological interventions.In addition,the control group was treated with conventional physiotherapy and over-ground walking training,while the experimental group was treated with body-weight-supported treadmill training.The speed of the treadmill walking was started at 0.22 m/s and increased to 0.60 ～ 0.80 m/s gradually.The percentage of the body-weight being supported was not more than 30％,the training time was 5 min per session at the beginning and was increased gradually to 20 ～ 40 min.Kinetic parameters were measured by using two force plates (AMT) and six cameras capture svstem (Vicon Nexus),and motor function was evaluated using Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) at baseline and after three-week's therapy.Peak moment of lower limb joints,ground reaction force and motor function were analyzed.Results FMA scores were significantly improved (P ＜ 0.05) in both groups after treatment,but there was no significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) between the two group.Ground reaction force was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05) after treatment in the experiment group,but not in control group (P ＞ 0.05).It showed that the hip extension moment at the affected side was significantly lower (P ＜ 0.05) in experiment group than in the control group,the ankle joint flexion and extension moment peak were improved to a significantly larger extend in the experimental group (P ＜ 0.05) than in the control group.In addition,the peak flexion and extension moment of the hip-knee joint and peak flexion and extension moment of the knee-ankle joint were also significantly different from those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Body-weight-supported treadmill training can facilitate motor recovery of paretic extremity by increasing ground reaction force and load support of the affected lower limb,and help normalize the abnormal gait pattern of lower extremity of stroke patients.

Prediction of Motor Function Recovery after Subcortical Stroke: Case Series of Activation PET and TMS Studies

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the pattern of brain activation induced by a motor task and the motor responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have prognostic implications for motor recovery after stroke. METHOD: Ten patients with first-ever subcortical stroke (55.7+/-17.3 years, 5 ischemic and 5 hemorrhagic) underwent 2 FDG PET studies under different conditions (1: rest, 2: activation with a specific motor task) at 37.7+/-25.2 days after stroke. The regions showing more than a 10% increase in glucose metabolism on subtraction images during activation and rest were considered to be significantly activated. Cortical excitability of intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were assessed using the TMS from both abductor pollicis brevis muscles within 7 days of PET scans. Recovery of motor function was assessed at the point of the neurological plateau. RESULTS: The presence of a motor response at the plegic site to TMS and normal intracortical inhibition, and facilitation patterns in the unaffected hemisphere were found to be related to good recovery. An association between an ipsilesional activation on PET and good motor recovery was also observed, but this was significantly weaker than that between TMS measured cortical excitability and motor recovery. CONCLUSION: Integrity of the ipsilesional corticospinal pathway, normalized contralesional intracortical excitability, and task-related activation in the ipsilesional hemisphere were found to predict post-stroke motor recovery significantly.

Spinal Cord Atrophy and Early Motor Recovery following Transverse Myelitis in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVE: To compare the motor recovery following transverse myelitis in pediatric patients with and without spinal cord atrophy. METHOD: From January 1995 through December 2009, twenty children (8 boys and 12 girls with an onset at 5.7+/-3.8 years) that were diagnosed with transverse myelitis at a Children's Hospital in Korea, and undertaken an initial and follow-up spine magnetic resonance image (MRI) were included. Medical records and spine MRI scans were reviewed retrospectively. An initial MRI was taken 5.1+/-8.7 days after the onset. The interval between an initial and follow-up MRIs was 33.4+/-23.0 days. The motor recovery differences between subjects with and without spinal cord atrophy on follow-up MRIs were determined. Motor recovery was defined as the elevation of one or more grades of manual muscle tests of the Medical Research Council. RESULTS: Eight patients had developed spinal cord atrophies and 12 patients had not. Of the 8 patients with spinal cord atrophy, 7 showed no motor improvement. Among the 12 patients without atrophy, 11 had motor improvement. Spinal cord atrophy on follow-up MRIs were related to the risk of no motor improvement (odds ratio=77.0, 95% confidence interval [4.114-1441.049], p-value=0.001). CONCLUSION: Children with transverse myelitis who had developed spinal cord atrophy on follow-up MRIs had poor motor recovery than those who had not. The appearance of spinal cord atrophy on follow-up MRI could be an indicator of poor prognosis in pediatric transverse myelitis.

The Effect of Electric Cortical Stimulation after Focal Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of electric cortical stimulation in the experimentally induced focal traumatic brain injury (TBI) rat model on motor recovery and plasticity of the injured brain. METHOD: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-trained on a single pellet reaching task (SPRT) and on a Rotarod task (RRT) for 14 days. Then, the TBI model was induced by a weight drop device (40 g in weight, 25 cm in height) on the dominant motor cortex, and the electrode was implanted over the perilesional cortical surface. All rats were divided into two groups as follows: Electrical stimulation (ES) group with anodal continuous stimulation (50 Hz and 194 micros duration) or Sham-operated control (SOC) group with no electrical stimulation. The rats were trained SPRT and RRT for 14 days for rehabilitation and measured Garcia's neurologic examination. Histopathological and immunostaining evaluations were performed after the experiment. RESULTS: There were no differences in the slice number in the histological analysis. Garcia's neurologic scores & SPRT were significantly increased in the ES group (p<0.05), yet, there was no difference in RRT in both groups. The ES group showed more expression of c-Fos around the brain injured area than the SOC group. CONCLUSION: Electric cortical stimulation with rehabilitation is considered to be one of the trial methods for motor recovery in TBI. However, more studies should be conducted for the TBI model in order to establish better stimulation methods.

Modulation of inhibitory systems to enhance motor rehabilitation: insights for the use of noninvasive brain stimulation

Motor impairment following stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults. Despite advances in motor rehabilitation techniques, many adult stroke survivors never approach full functional recovery. Intriguingly, children exhibit better rehabilitation outcomes when compared to adults suffering from comparable brain injuries, yet the reasons for this remain unclear. A common explanation is that neuroplasticity in adults is substantially limited following stroke, thus constraining the brain's ability to reorganize in response to neurological insult. This explanation, however, does not suffice for there is much evidence suggesting that neuroplasticity in adults is not limited following stroke. We hypothesize that diminished functional recovery in adults is in part due to inhibitory neuronal interactions, such as transcallosal inhibition, that serve to optimize motor performance as the brain matures. Following stroke, these inhibitory interactions pose rigid barriers to recovery by inhibiting activity in the affected regions and hindering recruitment of compensatory pathways. In contrast, children exhibit better rehabilitation outcomes in part because they have not fully developed the inhibitory interactions that impede functional recovery in adults. We suggest that noninvasive brain stimulation can be used in the context of motor rehabilitation following stroke to reduce the effects of existing inhibitory connections, effectively returning the brain to a state that is more amenable to rehabilitation. We conclude by discussing further research to explore this hypothesis and its implications

Transcallosal Fibers from Corticospinal Tract in Patients with Cerebral Hemorrage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the transcallosal fibers (TCFs) from the corticospinal tract (CST) and the motor function of the affected extremities in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, using diffusion tensor image tractography (DTT). METHOD: 49 patients with cerebral hemorrhage and 38 controls were recruited. DTT was performed using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging. The DTT findings were classified into 3 groups according to targeting location: no TCF from the CST (type A), TCF ended in the corpus callosum or connected to the cortex of the opposite hemisphere (type B), and TCF that descending toward the lesion after passing through the corpus callosum (type C). RESULTS: The TCF originated from the CST of the unaffected hemisphere, and the presence of fiber descending toward the lesion after passing through the corpus callosum were significantly more prevalent in the patients who showed the worse motor function. CONCLUSION: The TCF originated from the unaffected CST toward the lesion in patients with cerebral hemorrhage might play a relevant role in compensating motor deficits in the major corticospinal disruption.

The Correlation of Hemiplegic Upper Limb Recovery with SEP and MEP in Subjects with a Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether combined somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and motor evoked potential (MEP) would provide more reliable data in predicting hemiplegic upper limb function in subjects with an acute stroke. METHOD: We enrolled 59 subjects (34 males; mean age, 56.7 years) with stroke involving the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. The SEP and MEP were recorded within a month from the onset time of the stroke. Simultaneously, the manual function test (MFT) and the self-care in functional independence measure (Fsc) were selected for evaluation (MFT-Initial and Fsc-Initial). The MFT and Fsc were assessed every other week until improvement was no longer observed (MFT-Final and Fsc-Final). The subjects were divided into two groups according to SEP and MEP results. With the results from the two methods combined, the subjects were divided into three groups: responses in both, responses in only one, and responses in none. Data were analyzed to find the correlation of MFT or Fsc with the results of SEP and MEP combined and individually. RESULTS: Both SEP and MEP had a correlation with MFT- Initial and MFT-Final, but not with Fsc-Initial and Fsc-Final (p<0.05), whether combined or not. However, combining the SEP and MEP resulted in a stronger correlation with MFT-Initial and MFT-Final. CONCLUSION: Combining SEP and MEP is a more effective means to detect the recovery of motor weakness for hemiplegic upper limb in stroke subjects, although SEP or MEP alone has a correlation with recovery as well.

Effects of Functional Magnetic Stimulation on the Functional Recovery in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) on the functional recovery in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats (200~250 grams, female) were used. Rats were laminectomized and the T9 segment of spinal cord was contused using New York University (NYU) spinal impactor. Ten gram weight rod was dropped from a height of 25 mm to produce moderately contused spinal cord injury model. The animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups: one exposed to FMS (FMS group) and the other not exposed to FMS (non-FMS group). Transcranial functional magnetic stimulation was noninvasively applied for 4 weeks. To compare the results between FMS group and non-FMS group, motor functions were evaluated with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomtor rating scale and inclined plane test, and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were also recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in locomotor recovery between FMS group and non-FMS group (p<0.05). Measurement of MEP was also indicated that amplitude of MEP in FMS group is larger than that in non-FMS group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that FMS may have beneficial effects on motor recovery after spinal cord injury and the benefits of FMS could be an additional non-invasive therapeutic method for clinical trials in patients with spinal cord injury.

Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog

A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of followup demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.