Rehabilitation After Neurological or Orthopaedic Injuries

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of acquired disability and frequently results in impairments in balance and postural control that affect functional independence. Rehabilitation during the subacute phase is crucial for promoting neurological recovery. Visual feedback using a laser device may facilitate motor learning and postural correction; however, its effectiveness in individuals with subacute stroke has been insufficiently investigated. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a laser-based visual feedback exercise program in improving postural control in individuals with subacute stroke. Secondary objectives are to assess its impact on balance, mobility, and functional performance, and to compare outcomes with those achieved through conventional rehabilitation. Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted in individuals with subacute stroke. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, receiving exercises with laser-based visual feedback, or a control group, receiving usual rehabilitation care. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be performed using validated instruments to measure postural control, balance, and functional capacity. Discussion: This study addresses the need to identify effective, accessible, and low-cost therapeutic strategies to optimize post-stroke rehabilitation. If proven effective, laser-based visual feedback could enhance functional recovery, promote greater independence in activities of daily living, and help reduce the long-term impact of disability. The findings will provide scientific evidence relevant to clinical practice and may support the incorporation of this approach into neurological rehabilitation programs. In addition, the project will generate valuable knowledge for future research on innovative feedback-based strategies to improve functional recovery following stroke.

The POSTRAUMA trial is a clinical trial at The Regional trauma centre of Western Norway, Haukeland University Hospital. Trauma is the leading cause of death worldwide in patients aged 1-45 years. In Norway, approximately 10,000 patients are admitted to hospital annually due to trauma, with 66% being male. The mean age is 43 years for male and 48 years for female, indicating a relatively young patient population. While mortality rates are decreasing, a significant proportion of trauma survivors experience long-term disabilities, reduced quality of life, and difficulties in returning to work. These consequences impose substantial burdens on individuals, families, and society. Considering these issues, a shift in focus is needed-from survival alone to long-term functional recovery and quality of life after trauma. Severe trauma often requires long-term follow-up, both physically and psychosocially. Traditional follow-up can be fragmented and not tailored to individual needs. Digital patient monitoring and tailored information have the potential to improve patient pathways, but knowledge about how these are experienced by patients is limited. The goal is to find out if Norwegian trauma patients who receive tailored patient information and patient-managed outpatient digital follow-up, in addition to standard treatment have: * Less disability * Return more often to work * Improved quality of life The study population are Norwegian trauma patients, 16 years or older at date of inclusion, who are admitted to Haukeland University hospital (HUS) following trauma with trauma team activation. 256 patients will be included in this trial. Participants will: * Answer a questionnaire at inclusion, one month, 6 months and 12 months. * Participants in the intervention group will be invited to digital outpatient follow up one month after the accident. * Some participants will be interviewed about how they experienced their trauma follow up.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether using the ReHandyBot hand rehabilitation device together with the RehabCoach smartphone app can support safe, independent, and effective home therapy in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, or orthopedic problems. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can patients safely and independently use ReHandyBot and RehabCoach after leaving the clinic? * Will patients follow the recommended daily therapy schedule when using these tools at home? * How do patients experience the usability and acceptability of ReHandyBot and RehabCoach in everyday life? * Can this type of home-based therapy be extended to populations beyond stroke, such as traumatic brain injury and orthopedic patients? Participants will: * Complete a screening and baseline assessment with a therapist. * Use ReHandyBot in a supervised phase at the clinic (3 sessions of 30 minutes). * Continue with a minimally supervised phase at the clinic (3-7 sessions of 30 minutes, with daily app use). * If ready, enter the unsupervised phase, taking ReHandyBot home for daily 30-minute training sessions, supported by RehabCoach. * Return for a final assessment including clinical and robotic evaluations and usability feedback.