Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, the Netherlands.
Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2019 Aug 6;14(8):e0220544. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220544. eCollection 2019.
New developments, based on the concept of wearable soft-robotic devices, make it possible to support impaired hand function during the performance of daily activities and intensive task-specific training. The wearable soft-robotic ironHand glove is such a system that supports grip strength during the performance of daily activities and hand training exercises at home.
This pilot randomized controlled clinical study explored the effect of prolonged use of the assistive ironHand glove during daily activities at home, in comparison to its use as a trainings tool at home, on functional performance of the hand.
In total, 91 older adults with self-perceived decline of hand function participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to a 4-weeks intervention of either assistive or therapeutic ironHand use, or control group (received no additional exercise or treatment). All participants performed a maximal pinch grip test, Box and Blocks test (BBT), Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) at baseline and after 4-weeks of intervention. Only participants of the assistive and therapeutic group completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) after the intervention period.
Participants of the assistive and therapeutic group reported high scores on the SUS (mean = 73, SEM = 2). The therapeutic group showed improvements in unsupported handgrip strength (mean Δ = 3) and pinch strength (mean Δ = 0.5) after 4 weeks of ironHand use (p≤0.039). Scores on the BBT and JTHFT improved not only after 4 weeks of ironHand use (assistive and therapeutic), but also in the control group. Only handgrip strength improved more in the therapeutic group compared to the assistive and control group. No significant correlations were found between changes in performance and assistive or therapeutic ironHand use (p≥0.062).
This study showed that support of the wearable soft-robotic ironHand system either as assistive device or as training tool may be a promising way to counter functional hand function decline associated with ageing.
基于可穿戴软机器人设备的新概念，新的发展使得在进行日常活动和强化任务特定训练时支持受损手部功能成为可能。可穿戴软机器人 IronHand 手套就是这样一种系统，它可以在进行日常活动和在家中进行手部训练时提供握力支持。
本研究为一项初步的随机对照临床试验，旨在探索在日常生活中长时间使用辅助 IronHand 手套与将其作为家庭训练工具相比，对手部功能的影响。
共有 91 名老年人参与了这项研究，他们自我感知手部功能下降。他们被随机分配到为期 4 周的辅助或治疗性 IronHand 使用干预组，或对照组（不接受额外的运动或治疗）。所有参与者在基线和干预 4 周后都进行了最大捏力测试、盒子和块测试（BBT）、Jebsen-Taylor 手功能测试（JTHFT）。只有辅助和治疗组的参与者在干预期后完成了系统可用性量表（SUS）。
辅助和治疗组的参与者 SUS 评分较高（均值=73，SEM=2）。治疗组在使用 IronHand 4 周后，未支撑手的握力（均值Δ=3）和捏力（均值Δ=0.5）均有所改善（p≤0.039）。使用 IronHand 4 周后，不仅辅助和治疗组，而且对照组的 BBT 和 JTHFT 评分都有所提高。与辅助和对照组相比，治疗组的握力改善更为明显。在性能变化与辅助或治疗性 IronHand 使用之间未发现显著相关性（p≥0.062）。
本研究表明，可穿戴软机器人 IronHand 系统的支持，无论是作为辅助设备还是作为训练工具，都可能是对抗与年龄相关的手部功能下降的一种有前途的方法。
