Author:
Angerhöfer Cornelius,Vermehren Mareike,Colucci Annalisa,Nann Marius,Koßmehl Peter,Niedeggen Andreas,Kim Won-Seok,Chang Won Kee,Paik Nam-Jong,Hömberg Volker,Soekadar Surjo R.
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundAssistive hand exoskeletons are promising tools to restore hand function after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) but assessing their specific impact on bimanual hand and arm function is limited due to lack of reliable and valid clinical tests. Here, we introduce the Berlin Bimanual Test for Tetraplegia (BeBiTT) and demonstrate its psychometric properties and sensitivity to assistive hand exoskeleton-related improvements in bimanual task performance.MethodsFourteen study participants with subacute cervical SCI performed the BeBiTT unassisted (baseline). Thereafter, participants repeated the BeBiTT while wearing a brain/neural hand exoskeleton (B/NHE) (intervention). Online control of the B/NHE was established via a hybrid sensorimotor rhythm-based brain-computer interface (BCI) translating electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrooculographic (EOG) signals into open/close commands. For reliability assessment, BeBiTT scores were obtained by four independent observers. Besides internal consistency analysis, construct validity was assessed by correlating baseline BeBiTT scores with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) and Quadriplegia Index of Function (QIF). Sensitivity to differences in bimanual task performance was assessed with a bootstrapped pairedt-test.ResultsThe BeBiTT showed excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.9) and internal consistency (α = 0.91). Validity of the BeBiTT was evidenced by strong correlations between BeBiTT scores and SCIM III as well as QIF. Wearing a B/NHE (intervention) improved the BeBiTT score significantly (p < 0.05) with high effect size (d = 1.063), documenting high sensitivity to intervention-related differences in bimanual task performance.ConclusionThe BeBiTT is a reliable and valid test for evaluating bimanual task performance in persons with tetraplegia, suitable to assess the impact of assistive hand exoskeletons on bimanual function.
Funder
European Research Council
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
ERA-NET Neuron
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Einstein Stiftung Berlin
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Health Informatics,Rehabilitation
Cited by
2 articles.
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1. Mixed methods usability evaluation of an assistive wearable robotic hand orthosis for people with spinal cord injury;Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation;2023-12-01
2. Rehabilitation;Neurochirurgische Therapie von Verletzungen der Halswirbelsäule;2023