Korean J Med Phys.  2005 Mar;16(1):1-9.

Effects of the Symmetric Upper Extremity Motion Trainer on the Motor Function Recovery after Brain Injury: An fMRI Study

• Tae KS
• Choi HS
• Song SJ
• Kim YH

Abstract

The effect of the developed symmetric upper extremity motion trainer on the cortical activation pattern was investigated in three chronic hemiparetic patients using both fMRI and Fugl-Meyer test. The training program was performed at 1 hr/day, 5 days/week during 6 weeks. Fugl-Meyer tests were performed every two weeks during the training. fMRI was performed at 3T scanner with wrist flexion-extension in two different tasks before and after the training program: the only unaffected hand movement (Task 1) and passive movements of affected hand by the active movement of unaffected hand (Task 2). fMRI studies in Task 1 showed that cortical activations decreased in ipsilateral SMC but increased in contralateral SMC. Task 2 showed cortical reorganizations in bilateral SMC, PMA and SMA. Therefore, it seems that the cortical reorganization in chronic hemiparetic patients can be induced by the training with the developed symmetric upper extremity motion trainer.

Keyword

Symmetric upper extremity motion trainer; Fugl-Meyer test; FMRI; Cortical reorganization

MeSH Terms

Brain Injuries*
Brain*
Education
Hand
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Recovery of Function*
Upper Extremity*
Wrist