The Berlin bimanual test for stroke survivors (BeBiT-S): evaluating exoskeleton-assisted bimanual motor function after stroke.

Only 24 stroke survivors were tested, and only 15 completed the exoskeleton condition, so the assisted results rest on a small subgroup. 9 participants could not complete the exoskeleton condition because they could not follow the control method, could not move their eyes horizontally, were exhausted, had technical problems, the device did not fit, or there was no time. The sample mixed very recent and very long-standing stroke, from 1 month to 324 months post-stroke, so it may not apply neatly to either group. Few participants scored in the middle of the 0 to 100 scale, with only two between 20 and 40, so the total score may not track moderate impairment smoothly. BeBiT-S scores did not relate to Stroke Impact Scale daily activities or percentage of recovery, as expected. The study tested only one brain/neural hand exoskeleton, so compatibility with other assistive devices remains untested. The paper does not yet show that BeBiT-S can measure improvement over a rehabilitation course; it says further research is needed.

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is named as the funder.

Do not read the higher BeBiT-S scores with the exoskeleton as proof that brain-controlled hand exoskeleton therapy improves stroke recovery. The study was a small validation of an assessment tool, and the score rise only shows the tool can detect change with one device.