María Fernández Cañas

Mrs. María Fernández Cañas

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 April 2024 in Brain Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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VLVíctor Navarro López
Víctor Navarro López
Roberto Cano de la CuerdaRoberto Cano de la Cuerda
Roberto Cano de la Cuerda
PFPilar Fernández-González
Pilar Fernández-González
SMSelena Marcos-Antón
Selena Marcos-Antón
AFAitor Blázquez Fernández
Aitor Blázquez Fernández
DVDIEGO FERNANDEZ VAZQUEZ
DIEGO FERNANDEZ VAZQUEZ
The finger tapping test (FTT) is a tool to evaluate the motor performance of the hand and fingers and eye-hand coordination with applicability in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the TappingPro® mobile app and the construct validity between this app and validated clinical scales for motor performance in healthy subjects and pwMS. 42 healthy subjects (mean age 25.05) and 13 pwMS (mean age 51.69, EDSS between 3 and 7.5E) participated. FTT was performed with the TappingPro® mobile app. All participants were examined twice, with a one-week interval between the two appointments. For the analysis of construct validity, the Jamar® hydraulic hand dynamometer, Box and Blocks Test (BBT), and Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) were used. The intra-rater reliability showed a good correlation (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC > 0.787) for both upper limbs and both times of FTT for healthy subjects, and an excellent correlation (ICC > 0.956) for upper limbs and both times of FTT for pwMS. The ICC for the inter-rater reliability was good (ICC = 0.869) for the non-dominant upper limb in the FTT 10 s of the healthy subjects, and excellent (ICC > 0.904) for all the other measurements of the healthy subjects and pwMS. However, the Bland–Altman plots showed disagreement between observers and measurements that should be considered in the interpretation of clinical evaluations. The correlation analysis for healthy subjects showed poor associations between all variables, except for the association between hand grip strength and the FTT 60 s in the non-dominant upper limb, which had a moderate coefficient. For pwMS, there were moderate to excellent associations between BBT and the NHPT and FTT for both upper limbs. The correlations between hand grip strength and FFT were poor. This mobile app could be a useful and low-cost assessment tool in pwMS, allowing a simple evaluation and follow-up that has excellent correlation with clinical scales validated in this pathology.

21 December 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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MCMaría Fernández Cañas
María Fernández Cañas
RORosa María Ortiz-Gutiérrez
Rosa María Ortiz-Gutiérrez
PMPatricia Martín-Casas
Patricia Martín-Casas
CECecilia Estrada-Barranco
Cecilia Estrada-Barranco
SMSelena Marcos-Antón
Selena Marcos-Antón
Roberto Cano de la CuerdaRoberto Cano de la Cuerda
Roberto Cano de la Cuerda
Introduction. The proliferation of immersive virtual reality (VR) technologies has transformed the way individuals interact with digital environments, offering unprecedented opportunities in fields ranging from entertainment and education to healthcare and mental health interventions. Immersive VR is increasingly being implemented in motor and cognitive programs in neurorehabilitation, where patient safety and treatment adherence are critical. Despite its relevance, the conceptualization and measurement of cybersickness (CS) remain fragmented across disciplines, with various assessment tools developed in isolation, targeting different symptom domains, populations, and use contexts. Aim. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, categorize, and critically appraise all existing instruments and scales developed to measure CS associated with immersive VR use. The secondary objectives involve examining the psychometric properties of the identified instruments to provide robust evidence for clinicians in assessing CS associated with VR, thereby supporting future scale development and standardization. Additionally, a further objective is to evaluate the specific applicability of these instruments and scales for measuring CS within neurorehabilitation settings, given the growing use of immersive VR in clinical practice with neurological populations. Methods. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Guideline for reporting systematic reviews of outcome measurement instruments (PRISMACOSMIN). The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Data extraction was performed independently by the two reviewers, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus or consultation with a third reviewer. To assess the psychometric robustness of existing CS assessment instruments used in virtual reality settings, we applied the methodology proposed by the COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) initiative for systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The evaluation was structured across three steps: Assessment of risk of bias; Quality of measurement properties and Summary of evidence; and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. Results. Nine assessment instruments were included in this review. Following our analysis, the CSQ-VR and VRNQ received a Grade A recommendation, as they met sufficient criteria for both internal consistency and structural validity with high methodological quality. Few instruments have reported validations in specific clinical populations related to neurorehabilitation, including individuals with neurological conditions such as brain injury, multiple sclerosis (MS), migraine-associated vestibulopathy, vestibular disorders or cognitive impairment, indicating a critical gap in scale generalizability across clinical contexts. Conclusions. Despite the increasing use of immersive VR, few CS assessment tools have been designed and validated, reaching the CSQ-VR and VRNQ a Grade A recommendation. Among the nine identified assessment instruments, only the SSQ, MSAQ, CSQ-VR, VRNQ MSSQ and SEQ have been employed in samples with neurological disorders. There is a critical need for standardized CS VR-specific tools with robust psychometric properties to ensure safe and effective implementation in neurorehabilitation settings.

30 November 2025 in Brain Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MCMaría Fernández Cañas
María Fernández Cañas
Roberto Cano de la CuerdaRoberto Cano de la Cuerda
Roberto Cano de la Cuerda
SMSelena Marcos-Antón
Selena Marcos-Antón
AOAna Onate-Figuérez
Ana Onate-Figuérez
Background: In recent years, extended reality has gained traction in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) for their ability to deliver engaging, task-specific, and multisensory therapeutic experiences. Aim: This systematic review investigates the application of Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies in neurorehabilitation for individuals with MS. Method: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted across seven databases and seven eligible studies were identified involving MR/AR interventions targeting motor and cognitive functions, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Data extraction was performed independently by the two reviewers and discrepancies were resolved by consensus or consultation with a third reviewer. Participants were predominantly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS and presented mild to moderate disability. Technologies ranged from head-mounted displays to home-based AR platforms, with interventions addressing gait, upper-limb coordination, and dual-task performance. Outcome measures were mapped to the ICF framework, encompassing body function, activity, participation, and contextual factors. Results: Findings suggest short-term improvements in gait parameters, grip strength, and motor coordination, with enhanced engagement and usability reported. Methodological quality was moderate, with small sample sizes and heterogeneous protocols limiting generalizability. Risk of bias varied across study designs. Despite promising results, further research is needed to validate long-term efficacy, optimize cognitive load, and standardize intervention protocols. Conclusions: MR and AR may serve as effective complements to conventional and VR-based rehabilitation, particularly in personalized, task-oriented training for MS populations.