Assisting hand function after spinal cord injury with a fabric-based soft robotic glove.
Leonardo Cappello, Jan T Meyer, Kevin C Galloway and 6 others
PMID 29954401WHAT IT FOUND
Nine people with spinal cord injuries lifted objects more successfully while wearing a soft robotic glove operated by a researcher.
The glove improved hand function scores and lift force, but participants could not put it on themselves.
Key findings
01Wearing the glove significantly improved hand function scores on the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Hand Function Test compared to baseline.
02Lift force produced by the hand increased significantly when participants wore the active glove.
03Participants could not independently put on the glove, and a researcher controlled the device during testing.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Very small sample size (nine participants). No control group or comparison to other assistive devices; only baseline versus assisted condition. The device was operated by a researcher, not controlled voluntarily by the participants, so it tests mechanical assistance rather than user-controlled function. Participants could not put on the glove independently. Short-term testing only; long-term effects and usability in daily life were not assessed.
Declared interests
Funded by the National Science Foundation (US). No other conflicts of interest are reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume participants could control the glove with their own intention. The device was operated by a researcher, so this study shows the glove's mechanical potential to assist hand function, not the feasibility of user-controlled independence.