Error-enhanced augmented proprioceptive feedback in stroke rehabilitation training: A pilot study

Augmented feedback plays an essential role in stroke rehabilitation therapy. When a force is applied to the arm, an augmented sensory (proprioceptive) cue is provided. The question was to find out if stroke patients can learn reach-and retrieval movements with error-enhanced augmented sensory feedback. The movements were performed over a predefined path, and when deviating of the path a force is provided, as colliding to a wall of a tunnel. Two chronic stroke survivors (FM of 53 and 49) performed reach and retrieval movements in a virtual tunnel. When two consecutive series of 15 repetitions of the same movements were performed, there was a consistent decrease of collisions to the wall in the second series of movements. This indicates that these patients were able to learn the predefined trajectory by means of augmented proprioceptive feedback. Despite the small number of patients tested, this finding is promising for the usage of error-enhanced augmented proprioceptive feedback in rehabilitation therapy.