Table 4.
Summary of studies investigating the training effects of a soft robotic glove (pre vs. post intervention).
| Outcomes |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author, Year & Soft robotic glove model | Participants caracteristics | Research design & Intervention & | Measurements instruments | Pre M (SD) or percentage | Post M (SD) or percentage | p-value | Effect sizes or percentage difference |
| Thielbar et al.29 2016VAEDA | n = 22M = 15F = 7Control group: n = 11Experimental group: n = 11Age range: 32–77 yearsDx: chronic stroke | Randomized controlled pilot study: 3 × 60 min/week for 18 treatments of upper limb functional activities (e.g. reach-to-grasp) with an occupational therapist. Control group performed all the tasks without using the soft robotic glove and experimental group performed the same tasks with the soft robotic gloveMeasures taken pre and post intervention (T) and 10 weeks post-intervention (carry-over). (T10) | 1) Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) 2) Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) (sec)3) Fugl-Meyer Upper extremity Motor assessment (FMUE)4) Chedoke McMaster Stroke Assessment – Hand (CMSA-H)5) Grip strength (N)6) Pinch gauge (palmar) (N)7) Pinch gauge (lateral) (N)8) Fugl-Meyer Hand (FMH) | 1) 33.7 (13.5) 2) 31.2 (26.0)3) 34.8 (9.7) 4) 4.0 (0)5) 38.6 (12.6)6) 7.3 (3.3)7) 11.7 (3.7) 8) 9.2 (3.5) | 1) T: 36.3 (11.4)T10: 37.1 (11.9)2) T: 21.1 (13.8)T10: 22.6 (17.9)3) T: 34.8 (9.6)T10: 35.5 (9.3)4) T: 3.9 (0.3) T10: 4.3 (0.5)5) T: 37.8 (13.3)T10: 39.7 (13.1)6) T: 7.7 (3.7)T10: 8.1 (2.9) 7) T: 13.8 (6.9)T10: 14.2 (8.4)8) T: 9.1 (4.3)T10: 9.6 (4.1) | 1) T: p = 0.0722) T: p = 0.012*3) T: p = 0.9604) T: p = 0.038*5) T: p = 0.6376) T: p = 0.5887) T: p = 0.8418) T: p = 0.965 | 1) d = 0.202) d = −0.493) d = 0.004) NA5) d = 0.066) d = 0.117) d = 0.388) d = 0.03 |
| Chen et al.27 2017HandSOME | n = 10(post n = 7)M = 7F = 3Age range = 36–69 yearsDx: chronic stroke | Nonrandomized, pre–post-intervention study:5 × 90 min/week for four weeksUnimanual and bimanual manipulation of objects, lift and move objectsMeasures taken pre and post intervention (T) and three-month post-intervention (carry over) (T3) | 1) The Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity2) The Action Research Arm Test3) The Motor Activity Log4) The Modified Ashworth Scalea) Elbowb) Wristc) Fingers5) Finger extension (deg)6) thumb abduction (deg)7) Grip Strength with JAMAR (lbs)8) Reach path ratio of the hand | 1) 38.6 (6.9) 2) 23.1 (8.5)3) 1.3 (0.7)4)a) 1.1 (0.6)b) 0.9 (0.9)c) 1.4 (1.1) 5) 139.7 (46.0)6) 51.9 (17.7)7) 24.7 (15.6)8) 1.8 (0.3) | 1) T: + 4.9 (4.1)T3: + 4.0 (4.7)2) T: + 3.3 (2.6) T3: +0.6 (3.3)3) T: +0.23 (0.28)T3: +0.33 (0.32)4) a) T: +0.3 (0.7)T3: +0.1 (0.4)b) T: −0.1 (0.5) T3: 0.0 (0.6)c) T: −0.3 (0.8) T3: 0.0 (0.5)5) T: +6.5 (24.2)T3: +1.2 (23.9)6) T: 8.1 (18.9)T3: −0.5 (25.8)7) T: +3.0 (4.0)T3: 0.0 (9.6)8) T: −0.4 (0.3)T3: −0.4 (0.5) | 1) T: p = 0.039*T3: p = 0.1332) T: p = 0.032*T3: p = 1.0003) T: p = 0.145T3: p = 0.070*4) a) T: p = 0.642T3: p = 1.000b) T: p = 0.914T3: p = 1.000c) T: p = 0.772T3: p = 1.0005) T: p = 1.000T3: p = 1.0006) T: p = 0.598T3: p = 1.0007) T: p = 0.189T3: p = 1.0008) T: p = 0.038*T3: p = 0.340 | 1) NA2) NA3) NA4) a) NAb) NAc) NA 5) NA6) NA7) NA8) NA |
| Prange-Lasonder et al.15 2017HandinMind (HiM) | n = 4M = 3F = 2Assistive support (AS): n = 2Training support (TS): n = 2Age range: 58–76 yearsDx: chronic stroke | Randomized controlled pilot study: AS: 180 min per week of ADL with the glove at homeTS: 3 × 60 min a week through games with the glove in clinical settingTotal duration of six weeks. | 1) Pinch Gauge and grip strength2) Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Testa) Turning cardsb) Picking up small objectsc) Simulated feedingd) Stacking checkerse) Lifting empty cansf) Lifting full cans | 1) AS: two participants improvement range between +15% in grip strength and +43% in pinch strength per participantTS: individual changes from −3% (grip) to +11% (pinch)2)AS: from +7% and +15% (slower)TS: −4% and −20% (faster)a) AS: −10% and −4% TS: −2% and −35% b) AS: −35% and +16%TS: +34% and −9%c) AS: +65% and +28%TS: −8% and −21%d)AS: +21% to −2%TS: −39% and −19%e) AS:−9% and +25% TS: +14% and −17%f) AS: −16% and +39%TS: −16% and −10% | Not reported | Not reported | NA |
| Vanoglio et al.32 2017Gloreha Professional | n = 30M = 14F = 16Experimental group (E) n = 15(post n = 14)Control group (C) n = 15(post n = 13)Age: mean 72 (T)-73 (C) yearsDx: acute stroke | Randomized controlled pilot study: Total of 30 sessions of 40 min (5× / week) for six weeks.E: passive mobilization with glove: flexion, extension, grasping, forceps.C: conventional physiotherapy | 1) Motricity Index2) Nine Hole Peg Test (pegs/sec)3) Grip strength with JAMAR (Kg/BMI)4) Pinch Gauge (Kg/GMI)5) Quick-DASH | 1) E: 37.4 (26.5)C: 28.1 (29.8) 2) E: 0.014 (0.03)C: 0.017 (0.03)3) E: 0.14 (0.22)C: 0.19 (0.43)4) E: 0.07 (0.08)C: 0.04 (0.07)5) E; 59.7 (24.2)C: 65.6 (11.5) | 1) E: 60.4 (25.7)C: 33.2 (27.5)2) E: 0.17 (0.16)C: 0.04 (0.07)3) E: 0.41 (0.31)C: 0.22 (0.48)4) E: 0.14 (0.10)C: 0.05 (0.09)5) E: 44 (29)C: 65.1 (16.4) | 1) E: p = 0.0004*C: p = 0.06652) E: p = 0.0024*C: p = 0.27923) E: p = 0.005*C: p = 0.08544) E: p = 0.0040*C: p = 0.08695) E: p = 0.0048*C: p = 0.8212 | 1) E: d = 0.881C: d = 0.1782) E: d = 1.36C: d = 0.433) E: d = 1.00C: d = 0.0664) E: d = 0.77C: d = 0.1245) E: d = −0.59C: d = −0.036 |
| Bernocchi et al.31 2018Gloreha Lite Glove | n = 21(post n = 17)M = 14F = 7Mean age: 69 yearDx: chronic stroke | Nonrandomized, pre–post-intervention study: 45 min, 6×/week, for eight weeks. Passive finger mobility exercises. | 1) Modified Ashworth Scalea) Finger flexorsb) Opponents of the thumb c) Wrist flexors2) Circumference (cm)a) Forearmb) Wristc) Fingers3) Pain Visual Analog Scale4) Barthel Index5) Motricity index6) Nine-hole peg test (pegs/sec)7) Grip strength (kg/BMI) | 1)a) 0.6 (0.92)b) 0.4 (0.54)c) 0.5 (1.04)2)a) 18.6 (1.52)b) 18.5 (1.29)c) 21.3 (2.34)3) 1.3 (2.64)4) 32.7 (25.13)5) 44 (24.08)6) 0.05 (0.11)7) 0.005 (0.009) | 1)a) 1.0 (1.26)b) 0.4 (0.63)c) 0.8 (0.74)2)a) 18.6 (1.58)b) 18.3 (1.37)c) 21.2 (1.68)3) 1.8 (3.04)4) 54.2 (29.56)5) 56 (24.09)6) 0.10 (0.16)7) 0.009 (0.012) | 1)a) p = 0.0781b) p = 0.5625c) p = 0.13092)a) p = 0.1475b) p = 0.2661c) p = 0.89843) p = 1.00004) p = 0.0001*5) p = 0.002*6) p = 0.0156*7) p = 0.0024* | 1)a) d = 0.36b) d = 0c) d = 0.332)a) d = 0b) d = −0.15c) d = −0.053) d = 0.184) d = 0.785) d = 0.506) d = 0.367) d = 0.38 |
| Scott et al.28 2018FES Hand Glove 200 | n = 14(post n = 11)M = 14Age: 19–66 yearsDx: Spinal cord injury C4–C6 | Nonrandomized, pre–post-intervention study:30 min PROM with glove followed by 30 min PROM with FES(Total = 1h of treatment / session) four session week for six weeks. | 1) Functional Independence Measure (FIM) | 74.26 (22.52) | 80.55 (24.22) | p = 0.02* | 1) d = 0.27 |
| Kim et al.30 2019Hand of Hope | n = 12M = 2F = 10Age range: 39–79 yearsDx: chronic stroke | Nonrandomized, pre–post-intervention study:18 session of intensive robotic hand therapy over six weeks. Treatments three times a week. Measures taken pre and post intervention (T) and six weeks post-intervention (carry-over) (T6). | 1) Box and Block Test 2) Grip Strength (Kg)3) Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT)4) Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale (SULCS)5) Fugel-Meyer Assessmenta) Wrist and handb) shoulder and elbowc) total6) Stroke Impact Scale a) Hand subscale b) Recovery subscale | 1) 5.67 (10.36)2) 7.96 (6.24) 3) 2.13 (0.50) 4) 5.33 (2.15) 5)a) 8.67 (6.27)b) 12.08 (2.68) c) 20.75 (7.90)6)a) 11.50 (4.91) b) 58.75 (18.48) | 1) T: 6.08 (10.00) T6: 5.92 (10.41)2) T: 8.23 (6.18)T6: 7.44 (6.78)3) T: 2.35 (0.58)T6: 2.39 (0.66)4) T: 5.17 (2.17) T6: 5.00 (2.17)5) a) T: 9.42 (6.43)T6: 9.17 (6.34) b) T: 13.08 (3.26)T6: 13.92 (4.12)c) T: 22.50 (9.47)T6: 23.08 (9.82)6)a) T: 13.33 (5.48)T6: 14.42 (4.64)b) T: 66.25 (15.24)T6: 66.25 (17.47) | 1) p = 0.9592) p = 0.3933) p = 0.016*4) p = 0.5935)a) p = 0.649b) p = 0.273c) p = 0.2476)a) p = 0.008*b) p = 0.098 | 1) d = 0.042) d = 0.043) d = 0.044) d = 0.075) a) d = 0.1b) d = 0.04c) d = 0.26) a) d = 0.35 b) d = 0.44 |
| Milia et al.33 2019Gloreha Professional | n = 12M = 8F = 4Age range: 42–82 yearsDx: acute stroke | Nonrandomized, pre-post-intervention study: For three weeks, participants were exposed to Gloreha device rehabilitation (30 min/day), physiotherapy (1.5 h/day), and OT (30 min/day). | 1) Modified Ashworth scale2) Functional Independence measure3) Nine-Hole-Peg-Test | 1) 1.25 (0.87)2) 88.33 (12.34)3) 51.58 (5.40) | 1) 1.08 (0.9)2) 117.2 (7.59)3) 36.33 (3.67) | 1) p = 0.01*2) p = 0.63) p = 0.01* | 1) d = 0.1922) d = 2.8183) d = 3.303 |
M: mean score; SD: standard deviation; Dx: diagnosis.
*Statistically significant at p < 0.05.