Experimental Paradigm for Studying Impairments in Bilateral Reaching and Grasping After Stroke
Session Number
MEDH 03
Advisor(s)
M. Hongchul Sohn, Northwestern University
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
17-4-2024 10:25 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 10:40 AM
Abstract
After stroke, patients experience significant loss in performing activities of daily living (ADL) such as reach-and-grasp. The paresis mainly affects the side of the body contralateral to the lesion and slight deficits to the ipsilesional side, causing an asymmetry in impairment. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how functional reach-to-grasp is impaired following stroke, especially during bi-manual tasks. This project in the long term aims to determine the impact of asymmetric arm impairments due to stroke on unilateral and bilateral reach-to-grasp movements. As a first step, we present the initial development of the proposed approach and feasibility demonstrated in preliminary data from three healthy participants. Participants performed reaching and grasping movements to move a medially positioned engineered cube onto a higher-elevated platform unilaterally and bilaterally. Muscle activity was measured with electromyography (EMG) sensors, while the engineered cube provided insight into participants’ physical interactions with the object, measuring force and motion, with an IMU sensor measuring the speed and acceleration of the cube. The quantification of unilateral and bilateral reach was feasible. Trends of similar acceleration profiles and different muscle activity in lateral triceps were found in both participants between unilateral and bilateral grasp. The insights from this study will ultimately lead to the development of better training and intervention methods to mitigate the impact of stroke in performing ADL such as reach-and-grasp.
Experimental Paradigm for Studying Impairments in Bilateral Reaching and Grasping After Stroke
After stroke, patients experience significant loss in performing activities of daily living (ADL) such as reach-and-grasp. The paresis mainly affects the side of the body contralateral to the lesion and slight deficits to the ipsilesional side, causing an asymmetry in impairment. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how functional reach-to-grasp is impaired following stroke, especially during bi-manual tasks. This project in the long term aims to determine the impact of asymmetric arm impairments due to stroke on unilateral and bilateral reach-to-grasp movements. As a first step, we present the initial development of the proposed approach and feasibility demonstrated in preliminary data from three healthy participants. Participants performed reaching and grasping movements to move a medially positioned engineered cube onto a higher-elevated platform unilaterally and bilaterally. Muscle activity was measured with electromyography (EMG) sensors, while the engineered cube provided insight into participants’ physical interactions with the object, measuring force and motion, with an IMU sensor measuring the speed and acceleration of the cube. The quantification of unilateral and bilateral reach was feasible. Trends of similar acceleration profiles and different muscle activity in lateral triceps were found in both participants between unilateral and bilateral grasp. The insights from this study will ultimately lead to the development of better training and intervention methods to mitigate the impact of stroke in performing ADL such as reach-and-grasp.