Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation

Catalog description

This course is designed to expose students to the recent topics in motor stroke rehabilitation research through literature. KINES 465 Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation (3) This 3-credit course is designed to expose students to the most recent topics in motor stroke rehabilitation research through reading of current literature. The course addresses the neurobiological foundations of motor deficits in stroke, including contralesional and ipsilesional effects, current research on mechanisms of motor recovery, and the most current research on intervention strategies, such as constraint induced therapy, robot aided rehabilitation, virtual reality therapy, and sensory motor interventions. The purpose of the course is to provide an understanding of the neurophysiological and biomechanical foundations of motor deficits that occur with stroke, and of current treatment approaches. Stroke presents a significant social problem that is emphasized in current statistics reported by the American Heart Association indicating that each year, about 780,000 people in the United States experience a new or recurrent stroke. While stroke can produce deficits in perceptual, cognitive, and motor processes, this course is focused on sensorimotor deficits and associated rehabilitation interventions that tend to be employed by physical and occupational therapists in the rehabilitation environment. Sensory-motor strokes often result in weakness and deficits in voluntary movement of the limbs on the opposite side of the body as the damaged hemisphere (Contralesional). These motor deficits currently receive primary focus in occupational and physical therapy treatment for stroke. However, regardless of improvements in contralesional arm function, most patients also show deficits in coordination of the ipsilesional arm that is on the same side of the body as the damaged hemisphere. For many hemiparetic patients, functional recovery relies heavily on this arm. This class will focus on understanding both ipsilesional and contralesional motor deficits in stroke. Physiological and biomechanical mechanisms of dysfunction will be emphasized. Recovery of function will be addressed through analysis of physiological and biomechanical measures that are used to track changes in neural function. In addition, current research that is focused on developing rehabilitation intervention protocols that systematically address remediation of dysfunction, and facilitation of recovery will be discussed. Students will be guided in reading, critiquing, and presenting primary scientific manuscripts and review articles. Active discussions of presented material are encouraged, and grades are based on presentations, quizzes, and participation in class.