Exploring Home-Based Unsupervised Hand Therapy After Stroke Using the ReHandyBot Device

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the use of the ReHandyBot, a robotic device designed for hand rehabilitation after stroke. This study aims to explore if stroke inpatients can safely and effectively perform therapy with the ReHandyBot without supervision, first in a rehabilitation clinic and then at their home. The study also evaluates how usable the device is and measures how much additional therapy patients complete independently, aiming to improve hand function recovery with less burden on therapists and healthcare systems. The study has two main phases. First, participants undergo a familiarization phase in a rehabilitation clinic where therapists teach them how to use the ReHandyBot. During this phase, therapy sessions last about 45 minutes each, with five sessions per week, including three exercises per session. After this, if participants can train safely alone, they take the device home and continue unsupervised therapy for six weeks. Those unable to use the robot independently perform unsupervised exercises from a booklet both at the clinic and at home. Participants will be monitored throughout the study with various assessments, including measures of therapy dose such as minutes and repetitions during unsupervised home therapy. Researchers will track usability scores, adverse events, device issues, and changes in upper limb function using several clinical scales and robotic assessments. This includes monitoring satisfaction and motivation, with the total study lasting through the six weeks of home therapy after initial clinic familiarization.

Unsupervised Therapy After Stroke in the Home Setting with a Hand Rehabilitation Device (ReHandyBot)