Improved hand function in individuals with chronic stroke: Preliminary evidence from a Novel Hand Therapy Device

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 105; no. 4; p. e42
• Main Authors: Meltzer, Jed, de Grosbois, John, Dumais, Eric, Marshall, Mikayla, Wang, Grace, Alibhai-Najarali, Sabira, Rogojin, Alica, Heleno, Madeline, Pan, Si Yuan, Arya, Aarzoo, Shao, Jennifer, Nelson, Amy, Johnson, Vineet, Harris, Jocelyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Gamification; Hand; Neurological Rehabilitation; Stroke; Stroke; Hand; Gamification; Neurological Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0003-9993
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.02.114

To examine the efficacy of a novel hand therapy device. Before-after trial design with no control group. This project took place in a community setting. A total of 11 persons with stroke (PWS) aged 59.81±20.32 and 10.27±9.67 years post-stroke, with a mean starting ARAT score of 19.36, participated in the study. Fifteen one-hour training sessions over three weeks using the MyHand System focused on increasing hand active range of motion, strength and coordination using a gamified, digital interface. The primary outcome measure was the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). The secondary outcome measures were the Box and Block Test (BBT) and the ABILHAND questionnaire. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to determine the significance of the within-subject change. The Cousineau-Morey method was used to control for between-subject variance. A significant difference for the ARAT was found (PRE: 19.36 [CI 95%: 17.41 to 21.31], POST: 26.27 [CI 95%: 24.32 to 28.22], p = .004), as well as for the BBT (PRE: 6.55 [CI 95%: 4.77 to 8.32], POST: 10.18 [CI 95%: 8.41 to 11.96], p = .023). No significance was found for the ABILHAND (PRE: 0.58 [CI 95%: 0.27 to 0.89], POST: 0.95 [CI 95%: 0.64 to 1.26], p = .078), although it did surpass the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criteria (0.35 logits). The mean ARAT change score of 6.91 surpasses the required 5.7 points indicative of a meaningful clinically important difference. The 3-week intervention using the MyHand System demonstrated preliminary efficacy for improved hand function in a sample of 11 PWS. These findings support the development of an adequately powered efficacy randomized control trial. Jed Meltzer: Obtained funding with IRegained (creator of the MyHand System) from OCI, Inovait and Mitacs (pending). IRegained is also involved in HSF-funded research. Mikayla Marshall: Salaried, full-time employee of IRegained. Eric Dumais: Salaried, full-time employee of IRegained. Vineet Johnson: Founder, President and CEO of IRegained. All other authors: No conflicts, actual or perceived, to declare.