title: Portable upper extremity robotics is as efficacious as upper extremity rehabilitative therapy: a randomized controlled pilot trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of a repetitive task-specific practice regimen integrating a portable, electromyography-controlled brace called the 'Myomo' versus usual care repetitive task-specific practice in subjects with chronic, moderate upper extremity impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen subjects (7 males; mean age 57.0 ± 11.02 years; mean time post stroke 75.0 ± 87.63 months; 5 left-sided strokes) exhibiting chronic, stable, moderate upper extremity impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were administered repetitive task-specific practice in which they participated in valued, functional tasks using their paretic upper extremities. Both groups were supervised by a therapist and were administered therapy targeting their paretic upper extremities that was 30 minutes in duration, occurring 3 days/week for eight weeks. One group participated in repetitive task-specific practice entirely while wearing the portable robotic, while the other performed the same activity regimen manually.
  
  
  METHODS
  The upper extremity Fugl-Meyer, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Stroke Impact Scale were administered on two occasions before intervention and once after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After intervention, groups exhibited nearly identical Fugl-Meyer score increases of ≈2.1 points; the group using robotics exhibited larger score changes on all but one of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Stroke Impact Scale subscales, including a 12.5-point increase on the Stroke Impact Scale recovery subscale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that therapist-supervised repetitive task-specific practice integrating robotics is as efficacious as manual practice in subjects with moderate upper extremity impairment.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Laboratory (RehabLab), Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. Stephen.Page@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity
keywords: Rehabilitation; hemiplegia; rehabilitation; stroke