Clinical Neurophysiology in Rehabilitation Medicine / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

ABSTRACT

Rehabilitation medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of people with disabling medical conditions and dysmobility. Physiatrists work with people with disabilities to reduce the impact of their disease or disability on their daily life activities. On the other hand, clinical neurophysiology is a medical specialty that studies the central and peripheral nervous systems through the recording of bioelectrical activity, whether spontaneous or stimulated. Tests conducted are concerned with measuring the electrical functions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves in the limbs and muscles. It can give the precise definition of site, the type and degree of the lesion, along with revealing the abnormalities that are in question. Due to these abilities, clinical neurophysiology is used to mainly help diagnose diseases. However, because it records bioelectrical activity, clinical neurophysiology is also useful as a treatment method i.e. electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback and electromyography (EMG). Recently, EEG-based brainmachine interfaces (BMI) have been used for people with disabilities. As a BMI signal source, event-related desynchronization of alpha-band EEG during motor imagery (mu ERD), which is interpreted as desynchronized activity of the activated neurons, is commonly used. The ERD represents motor cortex excitability in normal people. ERD is also recorded over the affected side in M 1 and represents motor cortex excitability in stroke patients. BCI EEG feedback is thought to induce some improvement in motor function and brain plasticity. BCI technology therefore will be useful for restoring brain function in patients with stroke. So, owing to these treatment capabilities, clinical neurophysiology is also a medical subspecialty in Rehabilitation Medicine.