Neuropediatrics 2025; 56(S 01): S1-S24
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812148
Movement Disorders

The Expected Efficacy of Sensory Afferent Electrostimulation on Hand Use Asymmetry in Children with Hemiparesis: An Accelerometer-Based Everyday Life Assessment

Authors

  • K. S. Lory

    1   Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    2   Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

  • A. Gschaidmeier

    1   Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    2   Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

  • M. Von Gunten

    3   Department of Physiotherapy, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

  • K. Möri

    4   Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

  • R. Wiest

    5   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

  • K. Seidel

    6   Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland

  • T. Nef

    4   Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    7   Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

  • C. Simon-Martinez

    8   Institute of Informatics, University of Applied Sciences Western (HES-SO) Valais-Wallis, Sierre, Switzerland

  • R. Everts

    1   Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

  • S. Grunt

    1   Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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    Background/Purpose: Hemiparesis is characterized by impairments of unilateral motor and sensory functions resulting in reduced use of the affected upper limb compared to the unaffected side. This leads to noticeable asymmetry of upper limb use in daily activities, impairing performance in many aspects. Commonly used tools to effectively measure this asymmetry are wrist-worn accelerometer sensors or inertial measurement units (IMUs), which provide a practical, home-based method for monitoring upper limb use in daily life. Sensory afferent electrostimulation (SAES) has been shown to promote improvements in upper limb sensorimotor functions in paediatrics and could, therefore, decrease the bilateral hand use asymmetry. Our goal is to investigate the efficacy of SAES on upper limb function in children with hemiparesis in a randomized controlled trial using upper limb asymmetry scores, assessed with accelerometry in daily life.

    Methods: Thirty-four children with hemiparesis (aged: 6–18 years) participating in our randomized controlled trial, are equipped with bilateral wrist-worn accelerometer sensors at four time points: (1) baseline, (2) final week of 5-week SAES, (3) 1 week post-SAES, and (4) the week prior to the 12-week follow-up. The devices are worn for two consecutive weekdays at each time point. Hand use asymmetry is computed to assess functional changes in everyday bimanual activity.

    Results: We expect to find significant improvements in the SAES group in terms of a reduced upper limb asymmetry index. Preliminary results will be presented.

    Conclusion: We aim to provide evidence that a 5-week SAES intervention can significantly enhance upper limb function and that this functional enhancement is detected and reflected using wrist-worn accelerometer sensors in an everyday setting.


     

    Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

    Publikationsverlauf

    Artikel online veröffentlicht:
    26. September 2025

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