Wearable Ultrasound-Imaging-Based Visual Feedback (UVF) Training for Ankle Rehabilitation of Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Crossover Study

This study investigated the effect of wearable ultrasound-imaging-based visual feedback (UVF) on assisting paretic ankle dorsiflexion training of chronic stroke survivors. Thirty-three participants with unilateral hemiplegia performed maximal isometric contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer in randomized conditions with and without UVF that provided by a wearable ultrasound imaging system. Torque parameters (mean, peak, percentage of maximal voluntary contraction) and tibialis anterior muscle thickness were analyzed across different contraction phases. Statistical comparisons were conducted using paired <i>t</i>-tests or Wilcoxon tests. Correlation analyses were performed using Pearson's or Spearman's tests. Results demonstrated that UVF significantly improved torque output, as evidence by the increased percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) during entire contractions (<i>p</i> = 0.007), increased mean (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.022) and peak (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.044) torque and the %MVC (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.004) during mid and end phases, and larger muscle thickness during mid contraction (<i>p</i> = 0.045). Moderate correlations were found between torque and muscle thickness (r ≥ 0.30, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.049). These findings preliminarily supported the positive outcomes of real-time wearable UVFs in enhancing paretic ankle dorsiflexion strength and force control during isometric contractions in chronic stroke survivors. While the developed and validated new training protocol may potentially serve as a practical adjunct to existing rehabilitation approaches, further investigations emphasizing the functional outcomes and clinical translations are still needed to verify the clinical utility.