Researchers analyzed data from 366 patients who experienced lower-limb motor problems following a stroke. They looked at the effects of training using a brain-computer interface, which is a system that allows a person to control a device using brain signals. The study found that this type of training led to consistent and statistically significant improvements in lower-limb motor function.
While the improvement was consistent, the study noted that the amount of change was smaller than what is typically needed to reach a major clinical milestone for chronic stroke patients. The researchers also suggested that a total training time of between 401 and 800 minutes, broken into 20 to 40-minute sessions, might be an effective way to reach these goals.
Because the data comes from a meta-analysis of several trials, it shows a clear link between the training and better movement. However, more large-scale studies are needed to confirm the best way to schedule these sessions. Patients should talk to their doctors to see if this specific type of training is a good fit for their recovery plan.
