Hemiparetic weakness is common after stroke and only a small group of patients achieve useful upper limb function despite best rehabilitation efforts. This is due to the lack of intensive upper limb therapies to drive neuroplasticity either in clinic or at home. In this study, we plan to pilot home-based, robot-aided-therapy using H-man to deliver intensive arm rehabilitation.
It has been assumed that stroke survivors reach a plateau in their recovery within 3-6 months of their stroke. They tend to receive minimal rehabilitation support once they are discharged to the community citing obstacles such as ambulation, transportation, and cost. H-man is a novel telerehabilitation, upper limb training robot, that will deliver robot-aided therapy in patients' homes by clinic-based therapists through remote monitoring and under the supervision of their caregivers. The study aims to refine and evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of home-based training using the H-man robot.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
12
H-Man device will be deployed to patients for onboarding and home-based training.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Singapore, Singapore
Fugl Meyer Motor Assessment
Change in Fugl Meyer Motor Assessment score in the affected arm
Time frame: Assessed at week 5 from baseline (week 0)
Aggregated number
Mean/day and total cumulative over 30 days H-Man robot recorded arm repetitions (robotic metrics)
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
Streamlined Wolf-motor function test (SWMFT)
Functional score for stroke patients, minimum 0, maximum 75; with higher score indicating better function
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)
Functional and dexterity score for upper extremities, minimum 0, maximum 57; with higher score indicating better function
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
Grip strength (KgF) measured by Digital Dynamometer (mean of 3 readings will be recorded)
Measured by Digital Dynamometer (mean of 3 readings will be recorded)
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
Self-efficacy outcomes by UPSET (upper limb self-efficacy test)
Questionnaire to measure self-efficacy in various tasks after stroke
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
HrQOL scales using SS-QOL (Stroke specific Quality of Life scale)
Quality of life scale specific to stroke patients, minimum 49, maximum 245; with higher scores indicating better function
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24
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PROMs using subjective scales (Likert 0-5) to questions
E.g. how beneficial, how comfortable, how useful, how easy was H-Man robot training experience at home, and would they prefer this to be part of standard therapy.
Time frame: Assessed at weeks 0, 5, 12 and 24