Digital Technology In Neurology From Clinical Assessment To Neurorehabilitation

This revised, updated, and substantially expanded third edition provides an accessible, practical overview of major areas of research, technical development and clinical application in the field of neurorehabilitation movement therapy. The initial section provides the basic framework and a rationale for technology application in movement therapy by summarizing recent findings in neuroplasticity and motor learning. The following section provides a detailed overview of the movement physiology of various neurologic conditions, illustrating how this knowledge has been used to design various neurorehabilitation technologies. The third section then explains the principles of human-machine interaction for movement rehabilitation. The fourth section provides an overview of assessment technology and predictive modeling in neurorehabilitation. The fifth section provides a survey of technological approaches to neurorehabilitation, including spinal cord stimulation, functional electrical stimulation, virtual reality, wearable sensing, brain computer interfaces, mobile technologies, and telerehabilitation. The final two sections examine in greater detail the ongoing revolution in robotic therapy for upper extremity movement and walking, respectively. The promises and limitations of these technologies in neurorehabilitation are discussed, including an Epilogue which debates the impact and utility of robotics for neurorehabilitation. Throughout the book the chapters provide detailed practical information on state-of-the-art clinical applications of these devices following stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic disorders and future developments in the field. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs and schematic diagrams which serve to clarify the information for the reader. Neurorehabilitation Technology, Third Edition is a valuable resource for neurologists, biomedical engineers, roboticists, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and those training in these fields. Chapter “Spinal Cord Stimulation to Enable Leg Motor Control and Walking in People with Spinal Cord Injury is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Dr. Carmen Rodriguez-Blazquez received support from AbbVie for attending two scientific congresses. Prof. Mayela Rodriguez-Violante received honorariums from Medtronic and Everneuropharma.

Changes in the focus of neurological practice worldwide have led to the need for new standard texts that reflect the current state of this expanding area of clinical expertise. The second edition of the Handbook of Neurological Rehabilitation is a major reference source that fulfils this need, providing an invaluable resource for all professions that work with patients suffering from neurological disorders. It brings restorative neurology to the bedside and shows how a reiterative, goal-oriented, problem-solving training programme can benefit patients, sometimes on a scale not achieved by pharmacological or surgical interventions. The book is divided into three sections all of which have been updated. Section One explores the clinical and biological principles underpinning rehabilitation practice in the context of neurological disablement. Section Two describes the assessment, treatment, and management of the major physical, cognitive and behavioural impairments, and the resulting functional deficits that may follow or accompany neurological disease. The final section explores in more detail these problems and their management in relation to the more common specific disorders of the nervous system. The text emphasises the fact that rehabilitation is an ongoing process involving multidisciplinary problem-solving, goal-setting and education; in which organised care is more effective than unorganised care; and the breakdown of professional barriers within rehabilitation, to facilitate the use of combined treatment techniques, improves outcome. It describes the contribution made by neural reorganisation and compensatory mechanisms to recovery of function, focuses on the avoidance of secondary deficit, and explores the physical, cognitive, affective and behavioural problems that may occur after neurological damage. At a time when new medical technologies threaten to fragment the integrity of medical care at individual and societal levels, it is crucial that all those involved in the management of chronic neurological disease have a working knowledge of the contents of this book. Their perspective on clinical practice will then be truly integrated and holistic and their patients will benefit accordingly.

Part of the Oxford Textbooks in Clinical Neurology series, this textbook will provide the reader with an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of neurorehabilitation, as well as a clear idea about how (and why) to approach treatment decisions in individual patients.