Functional muscle networks as biomarkers of post-stroke motor impairment and therapeutic responsiveness.

Authors

David O'Reilly, Giorgia Pregnolato, Andrea Turolla, Pawel Kiper, Ioannis Delis, Giacomo Severini

Published in

eLife. Volume 14. Jul 23, 2026. Epub Jul 23, 2026.

Abstract

Standardised assessment of post-stroke motor impairment and treatment responsiveness remains a major clinical challenge. In this study, we tackle this challenge by applying a novel muscle network analysis framework to human stroke survivors undergoing intensive upper-limb motor training (O'Reilly & Delis, 2024). Our approach revealed distinct patterns of redundant and synergistic muscle interactions, collectively reflecting the diverse biomechanical roles of flexor- and extensor-driven networks. From these patterns, we derived new biomarkers that stratified patients by gross motor impairment severity and therapeutic responsiveness, each associated with unique physiological signatures. Remarkably, we identified a shift from redundancy to synergy in muscle coordination as a hallmark of effective motor recovery-a transformation supported by a more precise quantification of impairment over conventional approaches. These findings offer an in-depth characterisation of post-stroke motor recovery and establish a robust, independent tool for evaluating rehabilitation efficacy. Future research should employ this framework to identify biomarkers of activities- and participation-related functional recovery.

PMID:
42489546
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 18 Sep 2026.

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