Topic

Hand therapy research

Everything we have read on hand therapy. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations and the funding are in there too.

4 papers

• Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026 · Meta-AnalysisBrain-computer interface for upper limb functional recovery post-stroke: a meta-analysis of improvement in upper limb motor function and changes in neurophysiological markers.BCI training added to standard stroke rehab improved upper limb movement scores across 16 trials. The benefit was clearest in the subacute phase; in chronic stroke it did not reach significance. Consider BCI as an adjunct for subacute upper limb rehab, not a replacement.
• Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026 · Meta-AnalysisThe short-term efficacy of heat therapy for osteoarthritis of the hands: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Heat therapy for hand osteoarthritis reduces short-term pain and improves grip strength, but does not improve overall hand function scores. Multimodal approaches (paraffin, mud baths) outperformed simple heat. Based on 9 trials with 627 patients.
• Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026 · OtherCortical neuromodulation by vibration-induced illusion of movement is observed in older individuals, but not in individuals with acute stroke: a cross-sectional fNIRS study.Vibrating the triceps tendon to create an illusion of arm movement produced no measurable brain response in people with acute stroke, while healthy adults showed clear cortical activation. The technique may not engage expected neural pathways early after stroke.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · Systematic ReviewScoping Review of Occupational Therapy for Distal Radius Fractures, Including Complications.A scoping review found only five studies of occupational therapy for wrist fractures, and those focused almost entirely on range of motion and grip strength rather than on the daily activities and participation that occupational therapists are trained to address.