Effectiveness of Powered Hand Exoskeleton on Upper Extremity Function in People with Chronic Stroke

Impairment of upper limb function is common after a stroke and is closely linked to decreased functional independence in activities of daily living. Robot-assisted training has been used in clinical settings to improve hand function in stroke patients; however, many existing devices are costly and require specialized training to operate. This study aimed to propose a novel powered hand exoskeleton (EO) and verify its effectiveness on upper extremity function in people with chronic stroke. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. Each participant underwent 30 min interventions twice a week for 8 weeks. The experimental group received 15 min of conventional therapy followed by 15 min of training with the powered hand EO, while the control group received 30 min of conventional therapy. The primary outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity function (FMA-UE), the Box and Block Test (BBT), and handgrip dynamometer. Assessments were conducted at baseline and then at 4-week intervals throughout the 8-week period. Results showed that, after the 8-week intervention, the average changes in FMA-UE scores for the experimental group were significantly greater than those for the control group (p < 0.01). A clear upward trend in both FMA-UE and BBT scores was observed in the EO group. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the overall, proximal, and distal components of the FMA-UE scores (all p < 0.01) and in BBT scores (both p < 0.05) in the EO group compared to the control group at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. However, no significant differences in grip strength were observed between the groups at either time point. Our findings suggest that the proposed powered hand EO is both feasible and safe for training the impaired hand in stroke survivors. Given the characteristics of the device, it has potential for use in hand rehabilitation aimed at regaining upper extremity function.