title: A pilot study of robotic-assisted exercise for hand weakness after stroke.
abstract: Upper limb paresis is a major source of disability in stroke survivors, and robotic aided exercise therapy is a promising approach to enhance motor abilities. Few devices have been available to provide robotic therapy to the fingers and hand. We report an open-label pilot study of 12 individuals with chronic moderate hemiparesis after stroke who underwent a six-week training program using a hand robotic device. Participants received a total of 18 hours of robotic therapy. Improvements were found in multiple measures of motor performance, including the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer, the Motor Activity Log, the Manual Ability Measure-36, and the Jebsen Hand Function Test. All subjects tolerated the treatment well and no complications were observed. We conclude that robotic therapy for hand paresis after stroke is safe and feasible, and that further studies of efficacy are justified by these preliminary results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. Js1165@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helbok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation