Reliability and Construct Validity of a Mobile Application for the Finger Tapping Test Evaluation in People with Multiple Sclerosis.

The finger tapping test (FTT) is a tool to evaluate the motor performance of the hand and fingers and eye-hand coordination with applicability in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the TappingPro® mobile app and the construct validity between this app and validated clinical scales for motor performance in healthy subjects and pwMS. 42 healthy subjects (mean age 25.05) and 13 pwMS (mean age 51.69, EDSS between 3 and 7.5E) participated. FTT was performed with the TappingPro® mobile app. All participants were examined twice, with a one-week interval between the two appointments. For the analysis of construct validity, the Jamar® hydraulic hand dynamometer, Box and Blocks Test (BBT), and Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) were used. The intra-rater reliability showed a good correlation (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC > 0.787) for both upper limbs and both times of FTT for healthy subjects, and an excellent correlation (ICC > 0.956) for upper limbs and both times of FTT for pwMS. The ICC for the inter-rater reliability was good (ICC = 0.869) for the non-dominant upper limb in the FTT 10 s of the healthy subjects, and excellent (ICC > 0.904) for all the other measurements of the healthy subjects and pwMS. However, the Bland-Altman plots showed disagreement between observers and measurements that should be considered in the interpretation of clinical evaluations. The correlation analysis for healthy subjects showed poor associations between all variables, except for the association between hand grip strength and the FTT 60 s in the non-dominant upper limb, which had a moderate coefficient. For pwMS, there were moderate to excellent associations between BBT and the NHPT and FTT for both upper limbs. The correlations between hand grip strength and FFT were poor. This mobile app could be a useful and low-cost assessment tool in pwMS, allowing a simple evaluation and follow-up that has excellent correlation with clinical scales validated in this pathology.

Economic Cost of Rehabilitation with Robotic and Virtual Reality Systems in People with Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: The prevalence of neurological disorders is increasing worldwide. In recent decades, the conventional rehabilitation for people with neurological disorders has been often reinforced with the use of technological devices (robots and virtual reality). The aim of this systematic review was to identify the evidence on the economic cost of rehabilitation with robotic and virtual reality devices for people with neurological disorders through a review of the scientific publications over the last 15 years. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on partial economic evaluations (cost description, cost analysis, description of costs and results) and complete (cost minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost utility and cost benefit) studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The main data sources used were PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (WOS). Studies published in English over the last 15 years were considered for inclusion in this review, regardless of the type of neurological disorder. The critical appraisal instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute for economic evaluation and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) were used to analyse the methodological quality of all the included papers. Results: A total of 15 studies were included in this review. Ten papers were focused on robotics and five on virtual reality. Most of the studies were focused on people who experienced a stroke. The robotic device most frequently used in the papers included was InMotion® (Bionik Co., Watertown, MA, USA), and for those focused on virtual reality, all papers included used semi-immersive virtual reality systems, with commercial video game consoles (Nintendo Wii® (Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan) and Kinect® (Microsoft Inc., Redmond, WA, USA)) being used the most. The included studies mainly presented cost minimization outcomes and a general description of costs per intervention, and there were disparities in terms of population, setting, device, protocol and the economic cost outcomes evaluated. Overall, the methodological quality of the included studies was of a moderate level. Conclusions: There is controversy about using robotics in people with neurological disorders in a rehabilitation context in terms of cost minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost utility and cost benefits. Semi-immersive virtual reality devices could involve savings (mainly derived from the low prices of the systems analysed and transportation services if they are applied through telerehabilitation programmes) compared to in-clinic interventions.

Effects of the powerball® system on muscle strength, coordination, fatigue, functionality and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Although clinical and functional impairments in the lower limbs have been extensively studied in patients with MS, the upper limb (UL) are also frequently affected. Clinical impairment of the UL in patients with MS is very common with muscle strength and hand dexterity as critical factors in maintaining functional activities that are the basis for independence and quality of life in people with MS. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a training protocol using the Powerball® system in combination with conventional physiotherapy on muscle strength, coordination, fatigue, functionality, and quality of life in persons with MS over an 8-week period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. The control group received conventional treatment, while the experimental group received additional UL training using the Powerball® system. Both groups received the same number of sessions and weeks of intervention. The following outcome measures were used: isometric grip and pinch strength, Box and Block Test (BBT), Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), Abilhand scale, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), and Likert satisfaction questionnaire for the experimental group. All measures were administered at baseline, after the treatment, and during a 3-week follow-up period. RESULTS: 25 patients completed the study (12 in the experimental and 13 in the control group). The experimental group showed significant improvements in coordination and manual dexterity of the more affected UL as measured by the BBT comparing pre- to post-treatment (p = 0.048) and pre-treatment to follow-up (p = 0.001), and on the less affected UP comparing pre-treatment to follow-up (p < 0.001) and post-treatment to follow-up (p = 0.034). The Likert-type satisfaction questionnaire obtained a mean score of 89.10 (± 8.54) out of 100 points. CONCLUSIONS: Upper limb treatment protocol using the Powerball® system, in combination with conventional physiotherapy for 8 weeks resulted in significant improvements in the intra-group analysis for UL coordination and manual dexterity in favor of the experimental group. The experimental group showed excellent satisfaction to the treatment.

sEMG-controlled forearm bracelet and serious game-based rehabilitation for training manual dexterity in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Muscle strength and dexterity impairments are common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) producing limitations in activities of daily living related to the upper limb (UL). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of serious games specifically developed for the MYO Armband® capture sensor in improving forearm and wrist mobility, UL muscle strength, dexterity, fatigue, functionality, quality of life, satisfaction, adverse effects and compliance. METHODS: A double-blinded (allocation concealment was performed by a blinded investigator and by blinding for assessors) randomised controlled trial was conducted. The sample was randomised into two groups: an experimental group that received treatment based on UL serious games designed by the research team and controlled by the MYO Armband® gesture capture sensor, along with conventional rehabilitation and a control group that received the same conventional rehabilitation for the UL. Both groups received two 60-min sessions per week over an eight-week period. Wrist range of motion (goniometry), grip muscle strength (Jamar® dynamometer), coordination and gross UL dexterity (Box and Block Test), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), functionality (ABILHAND), quality of life (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29), adverse effects (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, SSQ), perceived workload (NASA-Task load index), satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8), Satisfaction with Technology Scale, System Usability Scale (SUS) and QUEST 2.0) and compliance (attendance) were assessed in both groups pre-treatment, post-treatment and during a follow-up period of 2 weeks without receiving any treatment. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the experimental group compared to the control group in the assessment of forearm supination (p = .004) and grip strength (p = .004). Adverse effects were minimal (SSQ: 7/100 points) and perceived workload was low (NASA-Task Load Index: 25/100 points) in the experimental group. The MYO Armband® technology proved to be useful for the participants (SUS: 80.66/100) and the satisfaction scales received high scores (QUEST 2.0: 59.4/70 points; Satisfaction with Technology: 84.36/100 points). There were significant differences between the groups in terms of attendance percentage (p = .029). CONCLUSIONS: An experimental protocol using MYO Armband®-based serious games designed for UL rehabilitation showed improvements in active wrist range of motion and handgrip strength in patients with MS, with high satisfaction, minimal adverse effects and workload and excellent compliance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This randomised controlled trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04171908.