Wearable Myoelectric Interface for Neurorehabilitation (MINT) to Recover Arm Activity After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Abed Khorasani, Cynthia M Gorski, Na-Teng Hung et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and effects of home-based myoelectric interface training in people with chronic stroke and moderate-to-severe arm impairment. Fifty-nine participants completed training. At week 6, the group training with three abnormally co-activating muscles improved its Wolf Motor Function Test time by 6.8 seconds (95% confidence interval [2.1-11.6 seconds], P = .001); the other individual MINT groups did not. Combined MINT groups improved by 4.1 seconds ([1.4-6.8 seconds], P = .0008).
Key findings
- Participants completed a mean of 86 ± 21 minutes of training per day and 315 ± 85 repetitions per day.
- At week 6, the three-muscle group improved WMFT time by 6.8 seconds (95% confidence interval [2.1-11.6 seconds], P = .001); other individual MINT groups did not.
- In per-protocol analysis, the three-muscle group improved more than sham on WMFT by 7.5 seconds ([0.1-14.9 seconds], P = .046), with improvements in shoulder/elbow subscores and kinematics.
- At week 10, all MINT groups improved significantly, unlike sham; reduced co-activation correlated with better arm function and movement.
Why it matters
Abnormal muscle co-activation can limit arm function after stroke. This trial suggests that training designed to promote independent muscle activation is feasible and may improve measured arm activity, particularly with the three-muscle protocol. The findings also link reduced co-activation with better movement, supporting further evaluation of this approach in chronic stroke rehabilitation.
What to keep in mind
The trial involved a specific population with chronic, moderately-to-severely impaired stroke, and the primary outcome was assessed at week 6. Other secondary outcomes showed no clinically important changes.