About

Dr. Steven R. Edgley is the Director of Stroke Rehabilitation at the University of Utah and an Associate Professor (Clinical) at the University of Utah School of Medicine. His clinical practice involves all aspects related to stroke rehabilitation, with particular emphasis on management of post-stroke spasticity, hemiplegic shoulder pain, gait quality and gait speed, and motor recovery after stroke. He is involved with both clinical aspects of stroke rehabilitation and research on new techniques and methods to promote and facilitate greater function after stroke. Dr. Edgley's aim is to promote greater functional independence in stroke patients throughout the clinical continuum of care and across the spectrum of disabilities related to stroke. He also addresses and facilitates return to driving, work, and community activities after stroke. Additionally, he is the Co-Director of the Center for Quality of Life after Stroke. Dr. Edgley graduated from Brigham Young University in 1997, completed medical school at Loyola University in Chicago in 2001, and finished his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Utah in 2006. His specialties include Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spasticity Management, Stroke Recovery, and Stroke. He has received recognition such as the Healthcare Hero Award by Utah Business Magazine in 2013 and the Richard A. and Carmen J. Rogers Presidential Endowed Chair in 2022.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Psychology
• Geography
• Cognitive psychology
• Audiology
• Anesthesia
• Engineering
• Surgery
• Neuroscience
• Physical therapy

Selected publications

• The Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG): Automated Assessment of Sensorimotor Hand Function Using an Instrumented Fragile Object

  IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Hand dexterity assessments play a crucial role in informing the rehabilitative care of individuals with upper-limb hemiparesis. However, current assessments often struggle to evaluate the hand's ability to precisely control grip force, a skill vital for daily activities like handling fragile objects. Here we describe the design of the Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG), an adjustable-weight, instrumented "fragile" object that measures grip force, load force, acceleration, orientation, and relative position. Embedded sensors enable automatic segmentation and analysis of EGG transfers in various modes. In "Non-Fragile" mode, there is no break threshold; the EGG serves as an automated variant of the Box-and-Blocks test. In "Fragile" mode, the EGG simulates fragility by playing a "break" noise if grip force exceeds a set threshold, requiring grip control to prevent breaks. In "Fragile-Feedback" mode, audio-visual feedback is provided proportional to applied grip force to supplement potentially impaired tactile feedback. Demonstrating functionality, we evaluated sensorimotor differences between 26 hemiparetic and 26 age-matched healthy participants. In "Fragile" mode, paretic hands were significantly slower, applied excessive force, and broke the EGG more frequently than contralateral and healthy control hands. In "Fragile-Feedback" mode, a subset of paretic hands improved, transferring the EGG faster and/or with less force. This work demonstrates the EGG's utility in automatically quantifying sensorimotor deficits and that, for a subset of hemiparetic patients, audiovisual feedback could potentially coach and rehabilitate hand function. Collectively, this work showcases the EGG's potential as both an assessment and rehabilitation device for grip force control-a critical skill in hand therapy.

  PublisherDOI

• Proportional myoelectric control of a virtual bionic arm in participants with hemiparesis, muscle spasticity, and impaired range of motion

  Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation · 2024-12-21 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: This research aims to improve the control of assistive devices for individuals with hemiparesis after stroke by providing intuitive and proportional motor control. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, with 80% of stroke-related disability coming in the form of hemiparesis, presented as weakness or paresis on half of the body. Current assistive exoskeletonscontrolled via electromyography do not allow for fine force regulation. Current control strategies provide only binary, all-or-nothing control based on a linear threshold of muscle activity. METHODS: In this study, we demonstrate the ability of participants with hemiparesis to finely regulate their muscle activity to proportionally control the position of a virtual bionic arm. Ten stroke survivors and ten healthy, aged-matched controls completed a target-touching task with the virtual bionic arm. We compared the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the recorded electromyography (EMG) signals used to train the control algorithms and the task performance using root mean square error, percent time in target, and maximum hold time within the target window. Additionally, we looked at the correlation between EMG SNR, task performance, and clinical spasticity scores. RESULTS: All stroke survivors were able to achieve proportional EMG control despite limited or no physical movement (i.e., modified Ashworth scale of 3). EMG SNR was significantly lower for the paretic arm than the contralateral nonparetic arm and healthy control arms, but proportional EMG control was similar across conditions for hand grasp. In contrast, proportional EMG control for hand extension was significantly worse for paretic arms than healthy control arms. The participants' age, time since their stroke, clinical spasticity rate, and history of botulinum toxin injections had no impact on proportional EMG control. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to provide proportional EMG control of assistive devices from a stroke survivor's paretic arm. Importantly, information regulating fine force output is still present in muscle activity, even in extreme cases of spasticity where there is no visible movement. Future work should incorporate proportional EMG control into upper-limb exoskeletons to enhance the dexterity of stroke survivors.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Exploring the physical, psychological, and social benefits of adaptive outdoor cycling in persons with stroke using a mixed methods approach

  Disability and health journal · 2024 · 1 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  • Medicine
  PublisherDOI

• Impaired Discrimination of Electrocutaneous Stimulation in the Paretic Hand of Stroke Survivors

  2022 44th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC) · 2023 · 1 citations

  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  • Audiology

  Artificial sensory feedback via electrocutaneous stimulation can be used to assist or rehabilitate stroke survivors with sensory deficits. Conveying the magnitude of tactile stimuli is an important aspect of artificial sensory feedback. Here, we explore how stroke-related sensory deficits impact the ability of electrocutaneous stimulation to convey the magnitude of tactile stimuli. Using classical psychophysical methods, we quantified the threshold of detection and the just-noticeable difference of electrocutaneous stimulation current in five stroke survivors with unilateral sensory deficits. We show significantly greater (40%) stimulation currents are needed for initial perception on the paretic hand compared to the non-paretic hand. We also show significantly greater percent changes in stimulation current (140%) are needed for reliable incremental perception on the paretic hand compared to the non-paretic hand. Lastly, we show little correlation between electrocutaneous discrimination performance and clinical sensory assessments of light-touch and spatial mechanoperception. These findings can help guide the implementation of artificial sensory feedback as an assistive or rehabilitative intervention for individuals experiencing sensory loss after a stroke.Clinical Relevance- Our results can help guide the implementation of electrical stimulation as an assistive or rehabilitative intervention for individuals with sensory loss after stroke.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Highly Selective Partial Neurectomies for Spasticity: A Single-Center Experience

  Neurosurgery · 2021 · 19 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Anesthesia

  BACKGROUND: Sedating antispastic medications and focal therapies like botulinum toxin are the most common therapies for spasticity but are temporary and must be performed continuously for a principally static neurological insult. Alternatively, highly selective partial neurectomies (HSPNs) may reduce focal spasticity more permanently. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the change in spasticity after HSPN and assess patient satisfaction. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with upper- and/or lower-extremity spasticity treated with HSPN from 2014 to 2018. Only cases with a modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score independently determined by a physical therapist were included. Pre- and postoperative MAS, complications, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: The 38 patients identified (24 male, 14 female; mean age 49 yr) underwent a total of 88 procedures for focal spasticity (73% upper extremity, 27% lower extremity). MAS scores were adjusted to a 6-point scale for evaluation. The mean preoperative and final postoperative follow-up adjusted MAS scores were 3.6 and 1.7, respectively (P < .001), which represents average MAS less than 1+. Positive, neutral, and worse results were described by 91%, 6%, and 3% of patients, respectively. Four patients requested revision surgery. No perioperative complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: This is the first North American series to analyze HSPN for spasticity and the only series based on independent evaluation results. HSPN surgery demonstrated objective short- and long-term reduction in spasticity with minimal morbidity and excellent patient satisfaction.

  PublisherDOI

• Contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2019-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Upper Limb Orthoses for the Stroke- and Brain-Injured Patient

  Elsevier eBooks · 2019-01-01 · 3 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Poster 67: Recreational Readiness Classification Post Stroke

  PM&R · 2018-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Poster 90: Assessing Stroke Patients' Steps using the Garmin Vivofit3: A Validity Study

  PM&R · 2018-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Efficacy and Safety of AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) for the Treatment of Hemiparesis in Adults With Upper Limb Spasticity Previously Treated With Botulinum Toxin: Subanalysis From a Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial

  PM&R · 2017-06-16 · 28 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of abobotulinumtoxinA in adults with upper limb spasticity previously treated with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A). DESIGN: A post hoc analysis from a Phase 3, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (NCT01313299). SETTING: A total of 34 neurology or rehabilitation clinics in 9 countries. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 18-80 years with hemiparesis, ≥6 months after stroke or traumatic brain injury. This analysis focused on a subgroup of subjects with previous onabotulinumtoxinA or incobotulinumtoxinA treatment (n = 105 of 243 in the total trial population) in the affected limb. The mean age was 52 years, and 62% were male. INTERVENTION: Study subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single injection session with abobotulinumtoxinA 500 or 1000 U or with placebo in the most hypertonic muscle group among the elbow, wrist, or finger flexors (primary target muscle group [PTMG]), and ≥2 additional muscle groups from the upper limb. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Efficacy and safety measures were assessed, including muscle tone (Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] in the PTMG), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), perceived function, spasticity, active movement, and treatment-emergent adverse events. RESULTS: At week 4, more subjects had ≥1 grade improvement in MAS for the PTMG with abobotulinumtoxinA versus placebo (abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U, 81.1%; abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U, 75.0%; placebo, 25.0%). PGA scores ≥1 were achieved by 75.7% and 87.5% of abobotulinumtoxinA 500 and 1000 U subjects versus 41.7% with placebo. Perceived function (Disability Assessment Scale), spasticity angle (Tardieu Scale), and active movement were also improved with abobotulinumtoxinA. There were no treatment-related deaths or serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of abobotulinumtoxinA in subjects previously treated with BoNT-A were consistent with those in the total trial population. Hence, abobotulinumtoxinA is a treatment option in these patients, and no difference in initial dosing appears to be required compared to that in individuals not treated previously. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Michael W. O’Dell

  Weill Cornell Medicine

  17 shared

• Jean‐Michel Graciès

  Université Paris-Est Créteil

  14 shared

• Allison Brashear

  University at Buffalo, State University of New York

  13 shared

• Fatma Gül

  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  11 shared

• Henry L. Lew

  University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

  10 shared

• Ziyad Ayyoub

  Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center

  10 shared

• Kristina M. Quirolgico

  9 shared

• Keith McBride

  University of Nottingham

  9 shared

Education

• B.S.

  Brigham Young University

  1997

• M.D.

  Loyola University

  2001

• Other, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

  University of Utah

  2006

Awards & honors

• Healthcare Hero Award by Utah Business Magazine (2013)
• Richard A. and Carmen J. Rogers Presidential Endowed Chair (…