Table 1.
Summary of 14 studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis of patients who experienced stroke.
| Study | Study sample, total n (exp/ctrl) | Age, years | Clinical course, Y, M, or D | Upper limb impairment degree | Intervention method |
Duration, weeks | Frequency | Outcome measure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experimental group | Control group | ||||||||
| Alon, 2008 48 | 26 (13/13) | Exp 63.15 ± 10.91Ctrl 66.46 ± 15.22 | 23.79 ± 8.8 D | FM-UE score (2–10) indicating moderate to severe impairment | Wearable orthotic with functional electrical stimulation (intensity and mode of electrical stimulation controlled by preset program), plus conventional exercise | Conventional exercise | 12 | 30 min, twice daily | FMA-UE, BBT |
| Barry, 2012 43 | 19 (10/9) | Exp 52.7 ± 16.1Ctrl 50.3 ± 7.5 | Exp 4.1 ± 2.3 YCtrl 5.1 ± 5.7 Y | Severe limb impairment | Dynamic wrist-hand orthosis (SaeboFlex) for mechanical assisted treatment | Manual-assisted therapy from therapist | 6 | 1 h/week + home exercise 4 days/week | BBT, ARAT |
| Friedman, 2014 42 | 12 (4/8) | Total 57 ± 30.5 | – | FMA score (34–62) indicating mild to moderate upper limb impairment | Music Glove - wearable musical glove training | Isometric exercises and traditional desktop exercises | 6 | 6 h, 3 times/week | FMA-UE |
| Lannin, 2016 44 | 9 (5/4) | Exp 63 ± 10.4Ctrl 51 ± 21.1 | Exp 2.5 ± 1.7 MCtrl 4.7 ± 6.1 M | Wearable SaeboFlex orthotic device | Conventional therapy | 8 | 45 min/day, 5 times/week | BBT | |
| Knutson, 2016 45 | 72 (40/32) | Exp 55.4 (17.0)Ctrl 56.3 (12.7) | Exp 1.8 (2.5) MCtrl 1.6 (4.9) M | FM-UE: 34 points indicating moderate impairment | Wearable glove functional electrical stimulation (FES) | Cyclic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (cNMES) | 12 | 60 min/time | FMA-UE, BBT |
| Lin, 2018 41 | 18 (9/9) | Exp 52.2 ± 10.2Ctrl 62.6 ± 7.1 | Exp 1115.7 DCtrl 510.9 D | Brunnstrom stages 3–5 | Wearable device based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs) + rehabilitation exercise | Conventional therapy | 5 | 15 times/day, 3 days/week | FMA-UE |
| Villafane, 2018 46 | 32 (16/16) | Exp 67 ± 11Ctrl 70 ± 12 | – | Ashworth scale < 3 | Wearable glove device (Gloreha) + PT and OT | Traditional rehabilitation therapy + PT and OT | 3 | 30 min/day, 3 days/week | MAS |
| Wei, 2019 39 | 59 (32/27) | Exp 59.19 ± 11.25Ctrl 63.11 ± 10.27 | Exp 47.75 ± 21.93 DCtrl 53.67 ± 41.16 D | Hemiplegic upper limb functional test (FM-UE) ≥ 3 | Wearable vibration alert watch + regular exercise | Standard care, sports | 4 | 3 h/day | FMA-UE, BBT, ARAT, MAL |
| Yang, 2021 47 | 25 (13/12) | Exp 44.4 ± 10.2Ctrl 47.1 ± 9.2 | Exp 22.5 ± 11.9 MCtrl 20.0 ± 10.4 M | MAS score 1–3 | Wearable dynamic 3D-printed wrist splint + standard rehabilitation | Standard rehabilitation | 6 | 6 h/day | FMA-UE, MAS |
| Park, 2021 49 | 44 (22/22) | Exp 60.59 ± 18.12Ctrl 62.29 ± 13.97 | Exp 17.73 ± 5.98 MCtrl 16.82 ± 7.28 M | Ashworth scale > 3 | Wearable glove device for game-based training equipped with multiple sensors + conventional PT | Conventional PT | 4 | 30 min/time, 5 times/week | FMA-UE |
| Schwerz de Lucena, 2022 38 | 20 (10/10) | Exp 56 ± 17Ctrl 58 ± 12 | Exp 32 ± 14 DCtrl 48 ± 45 D | – | Wearable real-time feedback watch including the ‘Manumeter device’ + regular sports | Standard watch | 3 | 10 h/day | FMA-UE, BBT, ARAT, MAL |
| Kim, 2022 40 | 36 (12/24) | Exp 59.58 ± 5.65Ctrl 62.88 ± 4.71 | Exp 7.00 ± 2.45 MCtrl 6.71 ± 2.44 M | FMA score (26–56) indicating mild to moderate motor impairment | Wearable reflective device mirror therapy +conventional rehabilitation | Traditional mirror +conventional rehabilitation | 4 | 30 min, 5 times/week | FMA-UE, BBT |
| Guo, 2023 37 | 120 (60/60) | Exp 56.25 ± 9.83Ctrl 55.82 ± 9.68 | Exp 46.22 ± 36.63 DCtrl 61.2 ± 46.67 D | Brunnstrom stages 2–6 | Wearable rehabilitation including IMUs and flex sensors, conventional clinical PT training and standard drug therapy | Conventional PT | 3 | 30 min/day, 2 days per week | FMA-UE |
| Maeda, 2024 50 | 20 (10/10) | Exp 71.6 ± 14.1Ctrl 74.1 ± 9.0 | Exp 52.7 ± 21.8 DCtrl 50.9 ± 22.4 D | Classification of finger function test, Class 1 C or above, or Level 2 and above | Standard rehabilitation nursing measures + ‘WIVES’ electrical stimulation device | Standard rehabilitation nursing measures +IVES | 4 | 8 h/day | FMA-UE, ARAT, MAL |
Data presented as n prevalence or mean ± SD, or median (interquartile range).
Exp, experimental group; Ctrl, control group; Y, years; M, months; D, days; PT, physical therapy; OT, occupational therapy; IVES, integrated volitional control electrical stimulation; WIVES, wearable integrated volitional control electrical stimulation.