Effect of Intensive Training With a pring-Assisted Hand Orthosis on Movement Smoothness in Upper Extremity Following Stroke: A Pilot Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: A commercial splinting system is designed to permit quick training in opening and closing the affected hand in order to overcome the disadvantages of previous approaches. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of intensive training using a spring-assisted hand orthosis on upper extremity in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Design: Five participants for the experimental group and 5 for the control group were recruited from a local rehabilitation hospital. Subjects in the experimental group participated in 4 weeks of training using a SaeboFlex orthosis for 1 hour per day, 5 times per week. Each subject in the control group wore the same orthosis for 1 hour per day without participating in upper extremity training. Outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Box and Block Test, and Action Research Arm Test; kinematic parameters were collected using a 3-D motion analysis system. Results: The Fugl-Meyer assessment and the Box and Block Test score were increased significantly in the experimental group after the intervention. The resultant velocity of the wrist joint for the reach-to-grasp task decreased significantly, and the resultant velocity of the shoulder joint while performing a reach-to-grasp task at acromion height decreased significantly in the experimental group. Conclusion: A pilot clinical study of spring-assisted dynamic hand orthosis training is feasible in recovering the movement of the hemiparetic upper extremity.