EMG-Directed Virtual-Reality Training for Motor Stroke Rehabilitation

The ARAT is an UL capacity test which assesses the ability to grasp, move and release objects of various sizes, weights and shapes. It has 19 sub questions scored on a 4- point ordinal scale, adding up to a total score between 0 and 57 points (57 = normal capacity). The MCID is set at 5.7 points, i.e., 10 % of the range.

18-item measurement tool, of physical, psychological and social function. Tasks that are evaluated using the FIM include bowel and bladder control, transfers, locomotion, communication, social cognition as well as six self-care activities.

FIM scores range from 1 to 7. The grading categories range from "total assistance with helper = 1" to "complete independence with no helper=7"

The CAHAI tests patients' performance in completing 13 functional tasks involving arm/hand movement, and encouraging the use of bilateral function (e.g. opening a jar, pouring a glass of water, etc.). Each item is scored on a 7-point scale where a low score indicates that the patient needs more assistance and the paretic arm performs only a small amount of the task, while higher score indicates more independence for completion.

This is a report-based assessment where patients are asked to rate their quality of movement and amount of the wearker arm movement during 30 (28 or 14 depending on the version) daily functional tasks. These tasks include object manipulation, and gross motor activities involving ambulation and balance. Patients are asked to score their quality of movement on a 6-item scale where a higher score indicates that the movements of this arm are closer to normal. Similarly their amount of use is scored out of 6 and a higher score refers to a use of the arm that is more similar to before the stroke.

14-item measure designed to assess anxiety and depression symptoms. Items are rated on a 4-point severity scale. The HADS produces two scales, one for anxiety (HADS-A) and one for depression (HADS-D), differentiating the two states. Scores of greater than or equal to 11 on either scale indicate a definitive case.

Faces pain scales consist of a series of line diagrams of faces with expressions of increasing distress.

The scale consists of 18 items relating to the subjective experience of fatigue. Each item asks respondents to place an "X," representing how they currently feel, along a visual analogue line that extends between two extremes (e.g., from "not at all tired" to "extremely tired")

Questionnaire within qualitative interview to help us better understand some of the behavioural change components underlying acceptance of and adherence with the intervention.

See Semi-Structured Interview - Patient Questionnaire document

TMS can be used to assess the integrity of the cortico spinal tract and so will provide a useful measure of the level of functional impairment.

The MMSE is a paper-based test with a maximum score of 30, with lower scores indicating more severe cognitive problems.

The MoCA is a paper-based test with a maximum score of 30 points, with lower scores indicating more severe cognitive problems. It looks more in depth at some of the deficits and may be more sensitive to subtle cognitive deficits.

Short questionnaire for determining objectively whether one is left or right-handed.

The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems. The patient is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking the box next to the most appropriate statement in each of the five dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number that expresses the level selected for that dimension. The digits for the five dimensions can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. The EQ VAS records the patient's self-rated health on a vertical visual analogue scale, where the endpoints are labelled 'The best health you can imagine' and 'The worst health you can imagine'. The VAS can be used as a quantitative measure of health outcome that reflect the patient's own judgement.

Recorded duration of time the device is in active use (per session/day/week- i.e. dose), number and type of gestures recorded (per session/day/week- i.e. intensity), time and date stamps affiliated with both. As well as the performance of the patient, as measured by the collected EMG activity and the performance on the games/activities that were engaged with, with metrics including completion rate, completion time, number of errors.

EEG assessments can be useful in providing a measure of the cortical activity, which we can compare to the muscular activity detected in the limbs. The ratio of these variables could provide a useful biomarker of recovery

Whether the patient has been required to return to hospital unexpectedly e.g. second stroke, with a documented reason.