Application Progress and Nursing Value of Brain-Computer Interface Technology in Upper Limb Motor Impairment Rehabilitation after Stroke

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmpe.202618506

Author(s)

Wenyan Mou

Affiliation(s)

School of Nursing, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China

Abstract

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability among adults worldwide. Many people who have a stroke end up with problems moving their upper limbs, and this can make it much harder for them to do everyday activities and can greatly lower their overall quality of life. Standard rehabilitation often helps only a limited amount with upper limb problems in the later stage after stroke, because it mainly depends on passive treatments given by therapists, so patients are not very actively involved. In recent years, brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has made it possible to read a person’s movement intentions in real time and turn them into external feedback. This creates an “intention-to-action” closed-loop system, which offers a new way to tackle this problem. Studies have demonstrated that when combined with functional electrical stimulation (fES) or visual feedback, upper limb motor function improves significantly under BCI intervention (SMD=0.62), making this approach particularly suitable for the subacute and chronic phases of stroke. The initial clinical application of implantable BCIs in patient care has preliminarily confirmed their safety and feasibility. However, the clinical implementation of BCIs for upper limb motor dysfunctionIn stroke patients, current management relies predominantly on monitoring signal quality during nursing care, load management, and psychological support. This review summarizes the technical principles and classifications of BCIs, the theory of neural plasticity, the current applications of BCIs in upper limb rehabilitation following stroke, and relevant research findings on their nursing value. From a nursing perspective, this review further discusses the unique advantages of BCIs in enhancing patient adherence to rehabilitation protocols, reducing adverse events, and strengthening patients' confidence in recovery. Ultimately, this work aims to establish a synergistic "technology–nursing" model for BCI-based rehabilitation, thereby promoting the standardized, precision-oriented, and equitable application of BCI technologies in clinical practice.

Keywords

Brain-Computer Interface; Stroke; Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction; Rehabilitation Nursing; Neural Plasticity

References

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