Tele-Monitoring and Tele-Rehabilitation of the Hand in Hemiplegic Patients: A Preliminary Study

Hemiplegia after stroke, one of the consequences of the acute loss of focal brain functions, is a syndrome clinically characterized by a deficit of voluntary motor activity in one half of the body. Many studies highlight the benefits of rehabilitation treatments on the partial recovery of motor function, but also how the effects of this treatment are not lasting unless frequently stimulated by maintenance activities. This study describes a methodological approach, based on non-invasive technologies, to the quantitative evaluation of motor tasks defined in the MESUPES-Hand section, which could allow targeted and monitored stimulation of patients in home environment, reducing or dilating new hospitalizations and further traditional rehabilitation treatments over time. Preliminary results indicate that the system detects quantitative and qualitative differences between hemiplegic and healthy hand, the starting point for the automatic evaluation of motor function and its progress through remote rehabilitation.