Recovery of lower limb function by hybrid-rehabilitation combining DC stimulation and gait: Physiologic study

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H03044
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Mima Tatsuya 立命館大学, 先端総合学術研究科, 教授 (20324618)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 野嶌 一平 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科(保健), 助教 (20646286) ; 植木 美乃 名古屋市立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 講師 (40467478)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: リハビリテーション / 非侵襲的脳刺激法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a new hybrid rehabilitation method by combining brain stimulation, peripheral electrical stimulation and repetitive movement for lower limb function reconstruction. After studies in healthy individuals, the affected M1 foot area was given rhythmic transcranial direct current stimulation synchronized with the walking rhythm of each individual for chronic poststroke patients. After repeated interventions in chronic stroke patients, their gait function improved. This suggests that brain stimulation synchronized with gait rhythm is a promising approach for inducing gait recovery (in submission). After developing the new method of lower extremity rehabilitation as originally intended, we performed the study in healthy people, and extended it to clinical application.

Free Research Field

ニューロリハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性期脳卒中患者での下肢機能の再建を実現することができれば、車いす生活となっている多くの患者にとってのADL,QOLの著明な改善に繋がることが期待される。また、車いす就労は制限されているため、下肢機能の改善を可能とする技術開発は、高齢社会の日本において生産人口の増加という点でも寄与できる。