Measuring Actual Arm Use during Soft-Robotic Glove Use at Home: Single-Case Experimental Design in Patients with Hand Limitations

Patients with persistent hand function limitations in a chronic phase of their traumatic hand injury or neurologic disorder can benefit from wearable robotics to assist in their activities of daily life (ADL). Use of a grip-supporting softrobotic glove as assistive device at home for six weeks has a therapeutic effect in addition to the direct assistance, with improved grip strength and hand function. The effect is thought to be related to an increase in actual arm use in daily life. This is investigated in an ongoing single-case experimental design (SCED) study among three patients with traumatic hand injury or a neuromuscular disorder. Actual arm use was measured using an accelerometer worn around each wrist for a week before, during and after six weeks of glove use at home. Three participants started concurrently. Two participants completed the study in compliance with the protocol, indicating feasibility for an SCED study in this setting. However, it needs attention during recruitment for participants' capacity to follow an intensive study schedule. Actual arm use increased during soft-robotic glove use in both participants, although to varying degrees, and decreased after cessation of glove use. This indicates that the arms/hands were used more intensively in daily activities during the period when the soft-robotic glove was worn. Further analysis is needed to assess whether a relation with hand function improvement and/or perceived benefit exists.