Clinical Program Manager Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Research Objectives: 1)To investigate the use of 3D printing design and production to meet the needs of a innovative device to help people with acute or chronic upper extremity deficits 2)To investigate the change in daily function with use of 3D printed device 3)To investigate engineering principles with rehabilitation for inertial measurement unit and external control versus EMG to deliver an optimal functioning device for the trial design
Design: Pre-test and post-test design
Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation research center
Participants: Participants were referred to the research study coordinator. Participants were deemed appropriate having met inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria; and consenting to trial. 5 participants have completed the study at this time.
Interventions: Don and doffing of the device, teach-back of safety mechanisms to use device independently, joy stick control with grasp and release activities, inertial measurement unit powered grasp and release activities, functional instrumental activities of daily living and self-care tasks, and bi-manual activities for everyday function.
Main Outcome Measures: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure Box and Blocks Action Research Arm Test
Results: COPM: >2 points improvement was recorded for each participant. The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), which evaluated upper limb function by observing performance in a variety of tasks, and the Box and Blocks Test (BBT), which evaluated manual dexterity in having participants pick up and transport 2.5 cm wooden blocks over a 15.2 cm partition. There was a significant improvement for participants in these assessments without the test and with the device comparing pre and post-test.
Conclusions: Five adults with UE mobility impairment due to stroke learned to use a lightweight, customized, powered hand orthosis. Although the orthosis can only achieve one type of hand open-close motion, participants were able to use it to perform desired activities in their home setting. Feedback from the therapists and participants in this trial can inform the design of an improved device that could one day become a widely available tool for hand therapists to provide to all those who may benefit.
Author(s) Disclosures: No disclosures
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to verbalize the main components of function the device provides for patients with chronic upper extremity deficits.
Participants will have learned the outcome measures and results of this study.
Patients will have achieved a minimum of one COPM goal with use of the device with the ability to independent operate device
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.jpg "Joe Kardine, MBA, MS, OTR/L, CBIS photo")
