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De Luca R, Gangemi A, Bonanno M, Fabio RA, Cardile D, Maggio MG, Rifici C, Vermiglio G, Di Ciuccio D, Messina A, Quartarone A, Calabrò RS. Improving Neuroplasticity through Robotic Verticalization Training in Patients with Minimally Conscious State: A Retrospective Study. Brain Sci 2024; 14:319. [PMID: 38671971 PMCID: PMC11048571 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In disorders of consciousness, verticalization is considered an effective type of treatment to improve motor and cognitive recovery. Our purpose is to investigate neurophysiological effects of robotic verticalization training (RVT) in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS). Thirty subjects affected by MCS due to traumatic or vascular brain injury, attending the intensive Neurorehabilitation Unit of the IRCCS Neurolesi (Messina, Italy), were included in this retrospective study. They were equally divided into two groups: the control group (CG) received traditional verticalization with a static bed and the experimental group (EG) received advanced robotic verticalization using the Erigo device. Each patient was evaluated using both clinical scales, including Levels of Cognitive Functioning (LCF) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and quantitative EEG pre (T0) and post each treatment (T1). The treatment lasted for eight consecutive weeks, and sessions were held three times a week, in addition to standard neurorehabilitation. In addition to a notable improvement in clinical parameters, such as functional (FIM) (p < 0.01) and cognitive (LCF) (p < 0.01) outcomes, our findings showed a significant modification in alpha and beta bands post-intervention, underscoring the promising effect of the Erigo device to influence neural plasticity and indicating a noteworthy difference between pre-post intervention. This was not observed in the CG. The observed changes in alpha and beta bands underscore the potential of the Erigo device to induce neural plasticity. The device's custom features and programming, tailored to individual patient needs, may contribute to its unique impact on brain responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria De Luca
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Antonio Gangemi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Mirjam Bonanno
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Rosa Angela Fabio
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy;
| | - Davide Cardile
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Maria Grazia Maggio
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Carmela Rifici
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Giuliana Vermiglio
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Daniela Di Ciuccio
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Angela Messina
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Angelo Quartarone
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Cda Casazza, SS 113, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.D.L.); (A.G.); (D.C.); (M.G.M.); (C.R.); (G.V.); (D.D.C.); (A.M.); (A.Q.); (R.S.C.)
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