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Effects of a Soft Robotic Glove using a High Repetition Protocol in Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study

Hand function rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects to improve the quality of life and independence for stroke survivors. Access to therapy is a key factor in one’s ability to perform rehabilitation exercises and recover motor function. The aim of this research is to show the viability of using a soft robotic glove to perform home-based rehabilitation of the hand function of stroke survivors. Soft wearable robotic devices are a promising approach to hand rehabilitation due to their lightweight, compliant, and low-cost design. The goal of this wearable technology is to reduce hyperexcitability of the flexor muscles through cyclic stretching of the fingers, active-assisted exercise, and task-oriented training. In this pilot study, four chronic stroke survivors were provided 300 repetitions of opening and closing their hand with the soft robotic glove over 6 training sessions. This high-intensity, high-repetition protocol was found to be safe and well-tolerated by all subjects. Results demonstrated average increases of 18.5° and 17.3° in the relaxed metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joint angles, respectively, of the index finger and an average increase of 33 Newtons in grip strength. This work motivates further development of this home-based soft robotic rehabilitation device and lays the groundwork for a longer term study.