The effect of upper limb orthotics after stroke: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Stroke Recovery

Background:

• Upper limb orthotics are commonly recommended for stroke survivors.
• There is varied opinion on the efficacy and application of these devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on upper limb orthotics for stroke survivors.
• To determine if orthoses improve function or impairments in individuals with stroke or non-progressive brain lesions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
• Searched multiple databases including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, and RECAL.
• Data extraction and quality assessment by two independent reviewers; fixed-effect model used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 4 trials involving 126 participants.
• Upper limb orthoses demonstrated no significant effect on upper limb function.
• No improvements were observed in range of movement (wrist, fingers, thumb) or pain levels.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence indicates that upper limb orthoses do not improve function or reduce pain in stroke survivors.
• The use of upper limb orthotics in this population is not supported by current research findings.