Brain-computer interface treatment for gait rehabilitation in stroke patients

Marc Sebastián-Romagosa; Woosang Cho; Rupert Ortner; Sebastian Sieghartsleitner; Tim J Von Oertzen; Kyousuke Kamada; Steven Laureys; Brendan Z Allison; Christoph Guger

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1256077

Brain-computer interface treatment for gait rehabilitation in stroke patients

Front Neurosci. 2023 Oct 18:17:1256077. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1256077. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ g.tec Medical Engineering Spain SL, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
² g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria.
³ Department of Neurology 1, Kepler Universitätsklinik, Linz, Austria.
⁴ Department for Neurosurgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
⁵ Hokashin Group Megumino Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
⁶ Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness Research Unit, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
⁷ CERVO Brain Research Center, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
⁸ Consciousness Science Institute, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
⁹ Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.

Abstract

The use of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) as rehabilitation tools for chronically ill neurological patients has become more widespread. BCIs combined with other techniques allow the user to restore neurological function by inducing neuroplasticity through real-time detection of motor-imagery (MI) as patients perform therapy tasks. Twenty-five stroke patients with gait disability were recruited for this study. Participants performed 25 sessions with the MI-BCI and assessment visits to track functional changes during the therapy. The results of this study demonstrated a clinically significant increase in walking speed of 0.19 m/s, 95%CI [0.13-0.25], p < 0.001. Patients also reduced spasticity and improved their range of motion and muscle contraction. The BCI treatment was effective in promoting long-lasting functional improvements in the gait speed of chronic stroke survivors. Patients have more movements in the lower limb; therefore, they can walk better and safer. This functional improvement can be explained by improved neuroplasticity in the central nervous system.

Keywords: 10 Meter Walking Test; BCI; brain–computer interfaces; functional electrical stimulation; gait; lower limb; neurorehabilitation; stroke.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. SL is Research Director at the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS) and supported by the Human Brain Project, National Natural Science Foundation of China, European Foundation of Biomedical Research FERB Onlus, fund Generet of King Baudouin Foundation, Mind Care International Foundation.