Myoelectric interface for neurorehabilitation conditioning to reduce abnormal leg co-activation after stroke: a pilot study.
Abed Khorasani, Joel Hulsizer, Vivek Paul and 3 others
PMID 38245730WHAT IT FOUND
Chronic stroke survivors walked 0.15 m/s faster after MINT conditioning, exceeding the 0.1 m/s minimum clinically important difference.
No adverse events were reported, but there was no control group.
Key findings
01Walking speed increased by 0.15 m/s after training, exceeding the 0.1 m/s minimum clinically important difference.
02Participants reduced co-activation between adductor magnus and rectus femoris by 70% compared with baseline.
03No adverse events were reported during MINT conditioning.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with only nine participants and no control group, so the authors state that the improvements cannot be definitively attributed to MINT. Training lasted only six days, so the dose needed for lasting benefit is unknown. Participants had chronic stroke at least 6 months prior and moderate to severe gait impairment, so the results may not apply to acute or mild cases. The device was described as cumbersome, which may limit acceptance and use. One day of game-performance data was missing and replaced with the previous day's value. The study did not test whether walking improvements persisted after training ended.
Declared interests
The paper reports NIH extramural research support. No author conflicts of interest are stated.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that MINT conditioning alone improves walking after stroke. It was a small pilot with no control group, and training involved repeated EMG game sessions with a foot brace and laboratory or home support.