Online compensation detecting for real-time reduction of compensatory motions during reaching: a pilot study with stroke survivors.
Siqi Cai, Xuyang Wei, Enze Su and 3 others
PMID 32345335WHAT IT FOUND
Robot force feedback reduced trunk and shoulder compensation during seated reaching more than virtual-reality audiovisual feedback.
This was a small feasibility pilot, not evidence of functional recovery.
Key findings
01Both audiovisual and force feedback reduced compensation during reaching compared with no feedback.
02Force feedback reduced compensation more than audiovisual feedback.
03The system detected compensation in real time with accuracy above 95% in the participants tested.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only eight participants were recruited, and the feedback comparison involved S7 and S8. The feedback sessions were not randomised; they were done in the order no feedback, audiovisual feedback, then force feedback. The study measured reaching angles, not clinical outcome assessments or long-term recovery. The classifier detects the main compensation when several occur at once, so mixed compensation may be missed. Participants had to sit unsupported for 10 minutes and were excluded if they had pain above 4/10, spasticity above 2, MMSE score of 23 or lower, or neglect.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that force feedback improves stroke recovery or functional outcomes. The study measured reaching angles in S7 and S8 during a fixed-order pilot, and the authors say caution is needed before applying the results.