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HandTutor TM enhanced hand rehabilitation after stroke — a pilot study
Author(s) -
Carmeli Eli,
Peleg Sara,
Bartur Gadi,
Elbo Enbal,
Vatine JeanJacques
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
physiotherapy research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.509
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1471-2865
pISSN - 1358-2267
DOI - 10.1002/pri.485
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , stroke (engine) , physical therapy , medicine , psychology , physics , thermodynamics
Background and Purpose. This study assessed the potential therapeutic benefit of using HandTutor TM in combination with traditional rehabilitation in a post‐stroke sub‐acute population. The study compares an experimental group receiving traditional therapy combined with HandTutor TM treatment, against a control group receiving only traditional therapy. Method. An assessor‐blinded, randomized controlled pilot trial, was conducted in the Reuth rehabilitation unit in Israel. Thirty‐one stroke patients in the sub‐acute phase, were randomly assigned to one of the two groups (experimental or control) in sets of three. The experimental group ( n = 16) underwent a hand rehabilitation programme using the HandTutor TM combined with traditional therapy. The control group ( n = 15) received only traditional therapy. The treatment schedules for both groups were of similar duration and frequency. Improvements were evaluated using three indicators: 1) The Brunnström‐Fugl‐Meyer (FM) test, 2) the Box and Blocks (B&B) test and 3) improvement parameters as determined by the HandTutor TM software. Results. Following 15 consecutive treatment sessions, a significant improvement was observed within the experimental group (95% confidence intervals) compared with the control group: B&B p = 0.015; FM p = 0.041, HandTutor TM performance accuracy on x axis and performance accuracy on y axis p < 0.0003. Conclusion. The results from this pilot study support further investigation of the use of the HandTutor TM in combination with traditional occupational therapy and physiotherapy during post stroke hand function rehabilitation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.