Effects of Combined Robot-assisted Therapy With Mirror Priming in Stroke Patients

The UE-FMA subscale will be used to assess the sensorimotor impairment level of UE in patients after stroke. The UE-FMA contains 33 movements with a score range from 0 to 66. A higher UE-FMA score indicates less impairment of the paretic limb. The validity and reliability of FMA is good to excellent.

Patient performs the exercise to move the joint without any assistance to the muscles surrounding the joint.

The Jamar hand dynamometer is the most widely cited in the literature and accepted as the gold standard by which other dynamometers are evaluated. Excellent concurrent validity of the Jamar hand dynamometer is reported. The Jamar hand dynamometer measure the grip-strength. The norm of healthy male aged 18 to 75 years is from 64.8 lb to 121.8 lb, while the norm of healthy female aged 18 to 75 years is from 41.5 lb to 78.7 lb. Higher value represent a greater grip-strength.

Investigators will use the MyotonPRO device to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of UE muscles.

The MAS is a 6-point ordinal scale that measures muscle spasticity in patients with brain lesions. Higher score indicates higher muscle tone. Investigators will assess the MAS scores of UE muscles, including biceps, triceps, wrist flexors and extensors, and finger flexors and extensors. The validity and reliability of MAS for patients with stroke were established to be adequate to good.

The MRC is an ordinal scale that assesses muscle strength. The scoring for each muscle ranges from 0 to 5, with a higher score indicates stronger muscle. The reliability of MRC for all muscle groups was good to excellent in patients with stroke.

The Commander Algometer (JTECH Medical, USA) is designed for easy handling and fine resolution to identify clinically significant pain sensitivity changes. The Commander Algometer provides a convenient, efficient, objective pain evaluation tool for treatment planning, progress evaluation and case management. The measured pressure thresholds/tolerances and trigger point tenderness will be reported by patients.

Changes in sensation before and after intervention will be measured with rNSA. Tactile sensation,proprioception, and stereognosis will be assessed with various sensory modalities. The rNSA is scored based on a 3-point ordinal scale (0-2) with a higher score indicates better sensation. The psychometric properties of rNSA have been established in patients with stroke.

The Wolf Motor Function Test evaluates upper extremity motor function via 15 function-based tasks and 2 strength-based tasks. The Wolf Motor Function Test -time evaluates the time required to complete the function-based tasks, and the Wolf Motor Function Test -quality assesses functional ability on a 6-point ordinal scale. A lower Wolf Motor Function Test -time performance indicates faster movement, whereas a higher Wolf Motor Function Test -quality score suggests better quality of movement. The psychometric properties of Wolf Motor Function Test have been established in stroke patients.

The Jamar hand dynamometer is the most widely cited in the literature and accepted as the gold standard by which other dynamometers are evaluated. Excellent concurrent validity of the Jamar hand dynamometer is reported. The Jamar hand dynamometer measure the grip-strength. The norm of healthy male aged 18 to 75 years is from 64.8 lb to 121.8 lb, while the norm of healthy female aged 18 to 75 years is from 41.5 lb to 78.7 lb. Higher value represent a greater grip-strength.

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most commonly administered psychometric screening assessment of cognitive functioning. The MMSE is used to screen patients for cognitive impairment, track changes in cognitive functioning over time, and often to assess the effects of therapeutic agents on cognitive function. The total score of MMSE ranged from 0 to 30. Higher values represent a better cognitive functioning.

The Motor Activity Log evaluates the amount of use (AOU) and quality of movement (QOM) of the affected hand in completing 30 common daily tasks. Scoring of each task ranges from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating more use or better movement quality. The responsiveness, validity, and reliability have been established in stroke patients.

The NEADL is a self-report scale that measures instrumental activities of daily living. It evaluates 4 areas of daily living, including mobility, kitchen, domestic, and leisure activities. The total score is 0-66, and a higher score indicates better daily functional ability. The psychometric properties of NEADL have been well established.

The SIS 3.0 will be used to evaluate health-related quality of life for patients with stroke. The SIS assesses eight domains (strength, hand function, ADL/IADL, mobility, communication, emotion, memory and thinking, and participation/role function) with 59 test items.

the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) , a questionnaire developed to measure the most relevant self-efficacy and self-management domains specific to the stroke population. It contains 13 items that are rated on a 0 - 10 scale, with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-efficacy. Questionnaire includes a range of relevant functional tasks such as walking, getting comfortable in bed, as well as some self-management tasks.

The DLSES is designed to measure self-efficacy in psychosocial functioning and self-efficacy in activities of daily living, regardless of level of physical impairment.

The Functional Abilities Confidence Scale (FACS) was designed to measure the degree of self-efficacy or confidence a patient exhibits with various movements or postures.

The movements of the arm and trunk will be captured by a 7-camera motion analysis system during unilateral and bilateral reaching tasks. Kinematic variables, such as reaction time, movement time, peak velocity, path length during the tasks can assess a patient's motor function in daily activities after intervention.