Baseline Predictors of Response to Repetitive Task Practice in Chronic Stroke

 

Baseline Predictors of Response to Repetitive Task Practice in Chronic Stroke

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Michael A. Dimyan, MD, Stacey Harcum, MPH, MS, OTR/L, Elsa Ermer, PhD, ...

First Published May 26, 2022 Research Article Find in PubMed 

https://doi.org/10.1177/15459683221095171

Article information

Abstract

Background

Repetitive task practice reduces mean upper extremity motor impairment in populations of patients with chronic stroke, but individual response is highly variable. A method to predict meaningful reduction in impairment in response to training based on biomarkers and other data collected prior to an intervention is needed to establish realistic rehabilitation goals(So you assholes are using the tyranny of low expectations to justify your failure to know exactly how to get to 100% recovery. I'd have you fired for not doing your job.) and to effectively allocate resources.

Objectives

To identify prognostic factors and better understand the biological substrate for reductions in arm impairment in response to repetitive task practice among patients with chronic (≥6 months) post-stroke hemiparesis.

Methods

The intervention is a form of repetitive task practice using a combination of robot-assisted therapy and functional arm use in real-world tasks. Baseline measures include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Wolf Motor Function Test, Action Research Arm Test, Stroke Impact Scale, questionnaires on pain and expectancy, MRI, transcranial magnetic stimulation, kinematics, accelerometry, and genomic testing.

Results

Mean increase in FM-UE was 4.6 ± 1.0 SE, median 2.5. Approximately one-third of participants had a clinically meaningful response to the intervention, defined as an increase in FM ≥ 5. The selected logistic regression model had a receiver operating curve with AUC = .988 (Std Error = .011, 95% Wald confidence limits: .967–1) showed little evidence of overfitting. Six variables that predicted response represented impairment, functional, and genomic measures.

Conclusion

A simple weighted sum of 6 baseline factors can accurately predict clinically meaningful impairment reduction after outpatient intensive practice intervention in chronic stroke. Reduction of impairment may be a critical first step to functional improvement. Further validation and generalization of this model will increase its utility in clinical decision-making.

Keywords

stroke, prognosis, TMS, MRI, robot, rehabilitation

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