Protocols for poststroke upper limb motor rehabilitation using new methods: experiences in Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Spain, and Germany

This chapter presents an extensive overview of novel brain-computer interface (BCI) protocols embedded in diverse neurorehabilitation strategies for upper limb movements in poststroke patients. Drawing on technologies such as robotic gloves, exoskeletons, collaborative robots, functional electrical stimulation, electric brain stimulation, virtual reality, augmented reality, and serious games, the protocols have been applied across international contexts, including Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Spain, and Germany. Despite the current limitation in the number of participants, these protocols promise to be effective for upper limb motor rehabilitation, contributing substantively to the evolving field of BCIs that are tailored to individuals with specific motor disabilities. The chapter acknowledges the challenges posed by reduced or absent event-related desynchronization in the affected hemisphere of poststroke patients and highlights the need for protocol adaptation. It also underscores the importance of addressing variability in motor imagery (MI) strategies among participants and suggests future directions involving broader clinical implementation, emphasizing the potential of BCI to transform poststroke rehabilitation.