Original researchGiving Them a Hand: Wearing a Myoelectric Elbow-Wrist-Hand Orthosis Reduces Upper Extremity Impairment in Chronic Stroke
Section snippets
Participants
Subjects were recruited from regional outpatient rehabilitation and orthotics/prosthetics clinics and support groups, or had previously participated in trials led by this laboratory. Based on previous work using myoelectrics,13 the inclusion criteria were (1) volitionally activated paretic biceps brachii electromyographic amplitude ≥5μV, (2) 1 stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic) experienced ≥12 months prior to study enrollment, (3) score ≥24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, (4) age ≥21 and
Participant demographics
There were 45 candidates screened; 27 were excluded because they did not meet study inclusion criteria (eg, no electromyographic signal, contractures), yielding a final sample size of 18. Sample demographics are depicted in table 1.
Behavioral outcomes
A Shapiro-Wilk test verified the normality of Fugl-Meyer Scale data with (W=.93, P=.21) and without (W=.92, P=.12) the myoelectric elbow-wrist-hand orthosis. These data were determined to have equal variances (F17,17=1.25, P=.33). There was a significant difference
Discussion
Most stroke survivors exhibit limited active movement in their paretic UEs. Devices that are easily integrated into community-based use and that confer immediate reductions in UE impairment are vital to increasing independence in this population. This study investigated the immediate benefits associated with donning a myoelectric elbow-wrist-hand orthosis in chronic, moderately impaired stroke survivors.
Subjects exhibited significant UE impairment reductions (mean Fugl-Meyer Scale score
Conclusions
Myoelectric elbow-wrist-hand orthosis use significantly reduces UE impairment and increases performance of certain functional tasks in chronic, moderately impaired stroke. Although performance on these functional tasks was inconsistent, this is likely caused by the complex movements needed to complete these tasks, coupled with subjects' lack of training on the device. Future work will incorporate standardized myoelectric elbow-wrist-hand orthosis training to more closely resemble how this
Supplier
- a.
MyoPro Motion-G; Myomo, Inc.
Acknowledgment
We thank Jonathon Naft, certified prosthetist/orthotist, for provided technical support and consultation on study design.
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Supported by Myomo, Inc.
Disclosures: Peters, Page, and Persch have provided consultation services to Myomo, Inc.