UPPER LIMB TRAINING WITH A DYNAMIC HAND ORTHOSIS IN EARLY SUBACUTE STROKE: A PILOT RANDOMIZED TRIAL

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of the addition of a dynamic hand orthosis to unilateral task-oriented training in early subacute stroke. DESIGN: Pilot randomized trial with concealed allocation, measurer blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty subacute stroke patients with moderate-to-severe upper limb disability. INTERVENTION: All participants received 4 weeks (60 min per day, 5 days a week) of unilateral task-oriented training. The experimental group (n = 15) wore a dynamic hand orthosis during half of the training time (i.e. 30 min per day). OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the upper limb activity measured using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) measured at baseline and 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes were the Nine-hole Peg Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity, grip strength, modified Ashworth Scale, Barthel Index and EuroQol-5D. RESULTS: No difference between groups was found for the primary outcome ARAT (mean difference 4/57, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) –5 to 13) nor for any secondary outcome. CONCLUSION: No additional benefit was found of wearing a dynamic hand orthosis during unilateral task-oriented training in the early subacute period. LAY ABSTRACT Dynamic hand orthosis may help upper limb recovery by optimizing the wrist and hand position. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of a dynamic hand orthosis to real-life task practice in early subacute stroke. A total of 30 stroke patients with upper limb disability were recruited to the study. All participants received 4 weeks (60 min per day, 5 days a week) of training. Fifteen participants wore a dynamic hand orthosis during half the training time (i.e. 30 min per day). No additional benefit of wearing a dynamic hand orthosis, in terms of upper limb impairments, activity, or participation, was found.