The use of soft-robotic gloves in ADL and rehabilitation: a scientific, clinical and manufacturing point of view

Recent technological developments enable the use of advanced soft-robotic devices for people with loss of hand function due to etiologies like trauma, neurological diseases or orthopedic conditions. Intended to be light-weight, wearable and comfortable to use in everyday environments, they potentially enable users to assist with daily tasks for prolonged periods.

Besides direct supportive effects during daily life tasks, these soft-robotic devices might be suitable to provide therapeutic effects as well, just by using the devices as a training tool at home, enabling users to perform more daily life activities for longer periods of time.

Within this symposium, we will start with a general introduction of soft-robotics in the field of rehabilitation. Second, we will present a scientific point of view on the use of soft-robotic gloves by presenting results of the iHand-study, a multicenter powered intervention trial to evaluate the therapeutic effects of a grip-supporting soft-robotic glove as an assistive device at home during daily activities. Results include grip and pinch strength, hand function and glove use time. The symposium will continue with the clinical perspective on the use of such devices for people with impaired hand function. Both experiences of a clinician and quotes of end users, who participated in the iHand-study, will be included. Finally, the manufacturer perspective will be presented. Examples of how clinical research drives further development of products will be described. Recent policy changes within the field of soft-robotics will also be presented which impacts the availability of these kind of products for patients.