Usability and effectiveness of a novel bilateral upper limb training device for stroke patients with hemiparesis: a pilot randomized controlled study.

The study analysed 27 participants per group, after 7 device group and 5 control group participants withdrew or were lost. It was a pilot, open-label study with no blinding for participants, therapists, or outcome assessors. Most participants had moderate impairment, so the results may not apply to patients with very little or much more severe upper limb weakness. The device group used preset, planar tasks, while the control group could tailor tasks to each participant's functional level. The coordination/speed subscale that favoured the device group has minimal validity and reliability in prior literature. There was no follow-up after the final session. Caregiver usability analysis used 25 of 27 caregivers because 2 invalid responses were excluded. Subgroup analyses by stroke type or side were exploratory and insufficiently powered. The Modified Ashworth Scale is subjective and has suboptimal inter-rater reliability.

The paper lists funding from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and the National Science and Technology Council, R.O.C.; no author conflicts were reported in the supplied text.

Do not read the device as more effective than conventional bilateral training. The primary upper limb score did not differ between groups, and both groups also received conventional occupational therapy. The coordination/speed result was secondary and has limited validity.