Brain Function for Evaluating Post Stroke Recovery Following Robot-Assisted Gait Training and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

In recent years, strokes have been ranked as number two among the top 10 causes of mortality in Taiwan. Recent developments in neuroimaging have focus on the reasons why some patients recover well while some do poorly. However, there is still no consensus on the exact mechanisms involved in regaining the functions after rehabilitation. In this study, we therefore attempt to find the change of cortical function and cortical In this two year projects focus on neuroimaging techniques that study cortical function and brain activity after RGTS and tDCS intervention. During the period of two years, forty chronic stroke subjects participated in the study. We divided subjects of stroke into four groups: traditional rehabilitation group, RGTS plus traditional rehabilitation group, tDCS plus traditional rehabilitation group and combined RGTS, tDCS as well as traditional rehabilitation group. All rehabilitation protocol consisted of four week, 12 sessions, and 90 minutes program. excitability following the intervention of traditional rehabilitation, Robot-assisted gait training system (RGTS; Lokomat), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Cortical function and activity will be assessed by We expect the study can help us to further exploration of the change of unctional magnetic resonance image (fMRI), Diffusion tensor image (DTI), Transcranial magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and etc. cortical function and cortical excitability following RGTS and tDSC intervention in subjects with chronic stroke. In addition, the results of this project will be provided for further rehabilitation programs in people with stroke.