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PURPOSE: To explore associations between psychosocial factors and pain intensity and pain interference in a population with a new neurological injury on admission to rehabilitation, and after six months. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A longitudinal, prospective cohort study with participants with stroke or Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) completing questionnaires for pain intensity and interference, mental health, pain coping strategies and pain attitudes and beliefs within two weeks of admission to inpatient rehabilitation. After six months, participants completed measures of pain intensity and pain interference only. RESULTS: In all 32 participants completed the questionnaires at baseline and 19 after six months. Several associations between a person's mental health and certain beliefs were associated with pain outcomes. Additionally, poorer baseline mental health was associated with greater pain intensity and pain interference after six months, and a stronger belief in a medical cure for pain at baseline was associated with less pain intensity and pain interference after six months. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial factors are associated with pain early after stroke and SCI. Psychosocial factors are also associated with pain outcomes several months after stroke and SCI. This highlights the importance of psychosocial factors in both of these populations and their relationship with pain outcomes.

Hybrid exoskeletons are a recent development, combining electrically controlled actuation with functional electrical stimulation, which potentially offers great benefits for muscular rehabilitation. This chapter presents a review on the state of the art of upper-limb hybrid exoskeletons with a particular focus on stroke rehabilitation. The current needs of the stroke rehabilitation field are discussed and the ability of hybrid exoskeletons to provide a solution to some of the gaps in this field is explored. Due to the early stage of development which most hybrid exoskeletons are in, little research has yet been done in control methods used for them. In particular, more investigation is needed with regards to the potential benefit of hybrid exoskeletons as a patient-monitoring and rehabilitation assist-as-need tool.

Hybrid exoskeletons are a recent development, combining electrically controlled actuation with functional electrical stimulation, which potentially offers great benefits for muscular rehabilitation. This chapter presents a review on the state of the art of upper-limb hybrid exoskeletons with a particular focus on stroke rehabilitation. The current needs of the stroke rehabilitation field are discussed and the ability of hybrid exoskeletons to provide a solution to some of the gaps in this field is explored. Due to the early stage of development which most hybrid exoskeletons are in, little research has yet been done in control methods used for them. In particular, more investigation is needed with regards to the potential benefit of hybrid exoskeletons as a patient-monitoring and rehabilitation assist-as-need tool.