title: Assisted movement with enhanced sensation (AMES): coupling motor and sensory to remediate motor deficits in chronic stroke patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional methods of rehabilitation in patients with chronic, severe motor impairments after stroke usually do not lessen paresis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A novel therapeutic approach (assisted movement with enhanced sensation [AMES]) was employed in a medical device phase I clinical trial to reduce paresis and spasticity and, thereby, to improve motor function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty subjects more than 1 year poststroke with severe motor disability of the upper or lower extremity were studied. A robotic device cycled the ankle or the wrist and fingers at 5 degrees/s through +/-17.5 degrees in flexion and extension while the subject assisted this motion. Feedback of the subject's active torque was displayed on a monitor. Simultaneously, 2 vibrators applied a 60 pps stimulus to the tendons of the lengthening muscles, alternating from flexors to extensors as the joint rotation reversed from extension to flexion, respectively. Subjects treated themselves at home for 30 min/day for 6 months. Every other day prior to treatment, the therapy device performed automated tests of strength and joint positioning. Functional testing was performed prior to enrollment, immediately after completing the protocol, and 6 months later. Functional tests included gait and weight distribution (lower extremity subjects only) and the Stroke Impact Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most subjects improved on most tests, and gains were sustained for 6 months in most subjects. No safety problems arose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AMES strategy appears safe and possibly effective in patients with severe chronic impairments. The mechanism underlying these gains is likely to be multifactorial.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Sciences Institute, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. cordop@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cordo
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutsep
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cordo
authors.forename: W Geoffrey
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cacciatore
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skoss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology; D019415:Torque; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use