TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of a wearable soft-robotic glove on motor function and functional performance of older adults
AU - Radder, Bob
AU - Prange-Lasonder, Gerdienke B.
AU - Kottink, Anke I.R.
AU - Holmberg, Johnny
AU - Sletta, Kristin
AU - Van Dijk, Manon
AU - Meyer, Thomas
AU - Buurke, Jaap H.
AU - Rietman, Johan S.
N1 - Taylor & Francis deal
PY - 2018/5/21
Y1 - 2018/5/21
N2 - Reduced grip strength, resulting in difficulties in performing daily activities, is a common problem in the population of older adults. Newly developed soft-robotic devices have the potential to support older adults with reduced grip in daily activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the direct, assistive effect of grip support from the wearable, soft-robotic ironHand glove. In total, 65 older adults with self-reported decline of hand function resulting from various disorders participated in this cross-sectional study. They performed various hand function tests with and without the glove during a single session. At the end, usability was scored. Participants were able to produce more pinch strength with the glove compared to without glove (p ≤ 0.001) and usability was rated very positively. However, this was not reflected in improved functional performance with the glove, as measured with timed tasks (p < 0.001). Furthermore, no correlation was found between baseline handgrip strength and changes in performance (between without and with glove) of all assessments (ρ ≤ 0.137, p ≥ 0.288). Further design adaptations are desired and more research is needed to investigate if performance with the glove can improve, when taking quality of task performance into account, or when applying a longer acquaintance period with the glove.
AB - Reduced grip strength, resulting in difficulties in performing daily activities, is a common problem in the population of older adults. Newly developed soft-robotic devices have the potential to support older adults with reduced grip in daily activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the direct, assistive effect of grip support from the wearable, soft-robotic ironHand glove. In total, 65 older adults with self-reported decline of hand function resulting from various disorders participated in this cross-sectional study. They performed various hand function tests with and without the glove during a single session. At the end, usability was scored. Participants were able to produce more pinch strength with the glove compared to without glove (p ≤ 0.001) and usability was rated very positively. However, this was not reflected in improved functional performance with the glove, as measured with timed tasks (p < 0.001). Furthermore, no correlation was found between baseline handgrip strength and changes in performance (between without and with glove) of all assessments (ρ ≤ 0.137, p ≥ 0.288). Further design adaptations are desired and more research is needed to investigate if performance with the glove can improve, when taking quality of task performance into account, or when applying a longer acquaintance period with the glove.
KW - UT-Hybrid-D
KW - older adults
KW - orthotics
KW - robotics
KW - activities of daily living
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047411145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10400435.2018.1453888
DO - 10.1080/10400435.2018.1453888
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047411145
JO - Assistive technology
JF - Assistive technology
SN - 1040-0435
ER -