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

Research Objectives: To examine the efficacy of a novel hand therapy device.

Design: Before-after trial design with no control group.

Setting: This project took place in a community setting.

Participants: 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.

Interventions: 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.

Main Outcome Measures: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Author(s) Disclosures: 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.