Abstract
Objective: To examine the effect of home-based electrical stimulation using closed-loop control of implanted microstimulators on upper limb function and impairment, and subjects' perception of the system. Materials and Methods: Six subjects with poststroke hemiparesis, and reduced upper limb function, who had taken part in Phase 1 of the study, were fitted with a personalized closed-loop control system (Phase 2) and used it at home during performance of functional tasks for 12 weeks (Phase 3). Main outcome measures were: Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Fugl-Meyer upper limb assessment (FMA), and motor control (Tracking Index). Subjects' perception of the system was assessed in a structured interview. Results: Improvement in ARAT (p= 0.05), FMA (p= 0.02), and Tracking Index (p= 0.03) during Phase 3. Five subjects said using the system had changed their lives and improved their function, all performed functional tasks with the system, but external components were inconvenient. Conclusions: Closed-loop control improved in function. Subjective assessment identified that the external sensors were effective. © 2010 International Neuromodulation Society.