Gad Alon1, Keith McBride, Haim Ring. 1. University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, Baltimore, MD 21201-1082, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Loss of upper extremity function following stroke remains a major rehabilitation challenge. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the Handmaster system (NESS Ltd., Ra'anana, Israel) could improve selected hand functions in persons with chronic upper extremity paresis following stroke. METHODS: Twenty-nine poststroke subjects consented to participate in a home-based, 3-week, nonrandomized case series trial. Main outcome measures included 3 activities of daily living (ADL) tasks: (1) lifting a 2-handled pot, (2) holding a bag while standing with a cane, and (3) a subject-selected-ADL. Secondary outcomes included lifting a 600-g weight, grip strength, electrically induced finger motion, Fugl-Meyer spherical grasp, and perceived pain scale. RESULTS: Comparing baseline to study end point with the neuroprosthesis, the percent of successful trials with lifting the pot, weight, and bag (0% v 93%, 14% v 100%, and 17% v 93%, respectively) increased significantly. All subjects performed successfully their selected ADL and improved their Fugl-Meyer scores using the neuroprosthesis. Grip strength (6.4 +/- 7.3N v 17.7 +/- 6.2N) and active finger motion (0.5 +/- 1.2 cm v 8.4 +/- 2.6 cm) also improved with the neuroprosthesis. Pain scores significantly decreased in subjects reporting pain at baseline. Responses to questionnaire were favorable regarding the utility and therapeutic benefits of the device. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Handmaster is a safe and effective noninvasive neuroprosthesis for improving the studied hand functions and impairments in selected persons with chronic hemiplegia secondary to stroke.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Loss of upper extremity function following stroke remains a major rehabilitation challenge. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the Handmaster system (NESS Ltd., Ra'anana, Israel) could improve selected hand functions in persons with chronic upper extremity paresis following stroke. METHODS: Twenty-nine poststroke subjects consented to participate in a home-based, 3-week, nonrandomized case series trial. Main outcome measures included 3 activities of daily living (ADL) tasks: (1) lifting a 2-handled pot, (2) holding a bag while standing with a cane, and (3) a subject-selected-ADL. Secondary outcomes included lifting a 600-g weight, grip strength, electrically induced finger motion, Fugl-Meyer spherical grasp, and perceived pain scale. RESULTS: Comparing baseline to study end point with the neuroprosthesis, the percent of successful trials with lifting the pot, weight, and bag (0% v 93%, 14% v 100%, and 17% v 93%, respectively) increased significantly. All subjects performed successfully their selected ADL and improved their Fugl-Meyer scores using the neuroprosthesis. Grip strength (6.4 +/- 7.3N v 17.7 +/- 6.2N) and active finger motion (0.5 +/- 1.2 cm v 8.4 +/- 2.6 cm) also improved with the neuroprosthesis. Pain scores significantly decreased in subjects reporting pain at baseline. Responses to questionnaire were favorable regarding the utility and therapeutic benefits of the device. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Handmaster is a safe and effective noninvasive neuroprosthesis for improving the studied hand functions and impairments in selected persons with chronic hemiplegia secondary to stroke.
Authors: Jennifer L Collinger; Brad E Dicianno; Douglas J Weber; Xinyan Tracy Cui; Wei Wang; David M Brienza; Michael L Boninger Journal: PM R Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Ryanne J M Lemmens; Annick A A Timmermans; Yvonne J M Janssen-Potten; Rob J E M Smeets; Henk A M Seelen Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2012-04-12 Impact factor: 2.474