Changes in movement profile related to use of a soft-robotic glove during high-demand tasks

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

Frail elderly with reduced hand function:
• Age between 65 and 90 years
• Experience difficulties in performing ADL due to a decline in hand function
• Able to make a pinch grip between thumb and middle or ring finger
• Sufficient cognitive status to understand two-step instructions
• Having (corrected to) normal vision
• Able to provide written informed consent
Neuromuscular patients:
• Age between 18 and 80 years
• Experience difficulties in performing ADL due to a decline in hand function
that can be attributed to a diagnosed neuromuscular disease
• Being in a chronic and stable phase of disease
• Able to make a pinch grip between thumb and middle or ring finger
• Sufficient cognitive status to understand two-step instructions
• Having (corrected to) normal vision
• Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Frail elderly with reduced hand function:
• Currently receiving treatment for a disease affecting arm/hand function
• Used the CarbonHand system in the past 3 months
• Severe sensory problems of the most-affected hand
• Severe acute pain of the most-affected hand
• Wounds on the hands that can provide a problem when using the glove
• Severe contractures limiting passive range of motion
• Severe spasticity of the hand (>=2 points on Ashworth Scale)
• Severe proximal weakness (MRC shoulder elevation<4)
• Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language to understand the purpose or
methods of the study
Neuromuscular patients:
• Severe sensory problems of the most-affected hand
• Severe acute pain of the most-affected hand
• Used the CarbonHand system in the past 3 months
• Wounds on the hands that can provide a problem when using the glove
• Severe contractures limiting passive range of motion
• Co-morbidities limiting functional use/performance of the arms/hands
• Severe spasticity of the hand (>=2 points on Ashworth Scale)
• Severe proximal weakness (MRC shoulder elevation<4)
• Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language to understand the purpose or
methods of the study

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main study parameters are the kinematic movement profile during a<br /><br>high-demand ADL task (reaching/grasping/transporting a heavy object), as<br /><br>measured by 3D motion capture (amongst others: movement duration, hand opening;<br /><br>joint excursions; endpoint error). </p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Experienced pain/discomfort, handgrip strength and endurance, number of<br /><br>repetitions of ADL task, muscle oxygen saturation and EMG parameters.</p><br>