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Development of a Novel Task-oriented Rehabilitation Program using a Bimanual Exoskeleton Robotic Hand
Published on: May 20, 2020
A Tenodesis-Induced-Grip exoskeleton robot (TIGER) for assisting upper extremity functions in stroke patients: a
Hsiu-Yun Hsu1,2, Kang-Chin Yang3, Chien-Hsien Yeh3
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
The TIGER exoskeleton robot significantly improved upper limb function in chronic stroke survivors. This robotic therapy, combined with task-specific training, aids in motor control and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stroke often results in hemiplegia, leading to significant upper limb motor impairments.
- Restoring hand and wrist function is crucial for regaining independence in daily activities.
- Current rehabilitation methods may not fully address the complex motor deficits in chronic stroke patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a lightweight exoskeleton robot, the tenodesis-induced-grip exoskeleton robot (TIGER).
- To evaluate the efficacy of the TIGER system in improving upper limb motor function in stroke patients with hemiplegia.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 34 stroke patients.
- Participants received 40 minutes of training, including 20 minutes of task-specific motor training and 20 minutes of either TIGER training (experimental group) or traditional occupational therapy (control group).
- Assessments included the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) at pre-treatment, immediate post-treatment, and 12-week follow-up.
Main Results:
- The experimental group using the TIGER showed significant improvements in the total FMA-UE score (p=0.006).
- Significant beneficial effects were also observed in wrist (p=0.037) and hand (p=0.006) scores of the FMA-UE immediately post-treatment.
- The TIGER training group demonstrated clinically important changes in motor control and upper limb functioning compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- The TIGER exoskeleton robot demonstrates beneficial effects in remediating upper limb impairments in chronic stroke patients.
- Robot-assisted therapy, particularly with distal upper extremity segments like those targeted by TIGER, aligns with use-dependent plasticity principles.
- Integrating TIGER training with conventional therapy offers a promising approach for enhancing motor recovery in stroke survivors.
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