Integrating hand exoskeletons into goal-oriented clinic and home stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 2022 · DOI: 10.1177/20556683221130970 · Published: September 20, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Neurorehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the feasibility and effects of using a hand exoskeleton during rehabilitation for people with hand impairments after stroke or spinal cord injury. Patients used the exoskeleton during therapy sessions in the clinic and at home, focusing on exercises and activities of daily living tailored to their goals. The results showed that the program was feasible and patients generally performed better with and without the exoskeleton after the therapy program.

Study Duration

7 days

Participants

4 stroke patients and 1 SCI patient

Evidence Level

Level 4; Single-arm case-series feasibility study

Key Findings

1
The exoskeleton-supported therapy program with in-clinic and at-home training was feasible for stroke and SCI patients.
2
Patients showed improvements in goal attainment and dexterity with and without the exoskeleton after the therapy program.
3
Patients and therapists rated the exoskeleton as having ‘good’ usability, with no reports of safety issues or adverse events.

Research Summary

This study assessed the feasibility of integrating a hand exoskeleton (HERO) into clinic and home rehabilitation programs for stroke and SCI patients and evaluated its orthotic and restorative potential. The study found that the exoskeleton-assisted therapy program was feasible, with patients completing both in-clinic and at-home components without safety issues. Patients demonstrated enhanced performance on goal-oriented activities and functional tasks, both with and without exoskeleton assistance, suggesting orthotic and restorative effects.

Practical Implications

Increased Independence

Hand exoskeletons can enable people with hand impairments to perform daily activities more independently.

Enhanced Rehabilitation Access

Integrating exoskeletons into rehabilitation programs can improve access to therapy and promote greater patient engagement.

Personalized Therapy

The use of goal attainment scaling allows for personalized therapy tasks, improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings.
2
Short study duration may not be sufficient to observe significant changes in motor recovery.
3
Subjective assessments may introduce bias in usability and satisfaction ratings.

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