Application of a myoelectric elbow flexion assist orthosis in adult traumatic brachial plexus injury: patient perspectives.
Christina M Webber, Jason S Egginton, Alexander Y Shin and 1 others
PMID 34789712WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with brachial plexus injury found myoelectric elbow orthoses helpful for retraining movement in therapy but unreliable for daily life due to sweat interference, lack of strength, and shoulder pain.
Expectations of restoring normal arm function were unmet.
Key findings
01Participants primarily valued the device for rehabilitation and relearning movement, with mixed or negative views on its utility for daily activities.
02Device reliability issues, specifically loss of control due to sweat and humidity, and limited strength prevented consistent use outside the home.
03The bulk of the orthosis caused shoulder strain and pain, and the lack of shoulder stabilization increased the risk of subluxation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Small sample size of eight participants limits the generalizability of the findings. Recruitment from a single specialist center may not reflect broader patient experiences. Daily wear time and specific MEO model versions were not controlled, potentially influencing perceptions of reliability and comfort. The cohort was predominantly male, limiting insights into female-specific anatomical or functional concerns.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these patient perspectives as evidence of clinical efficacy or functional improvement. This is a qualitative study of user experience; concurrent clinical data showed improvements in strength and function that patients did not necessarily perceive or value in their daily lives.