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 are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,303 PAPERS · PAGE 18 OF 27 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2024Influence of blood lactate variations and passive exercise on cardiac responses.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn nine healthy men, passive arm cycling raised heart rate equally regardless of preceding handgrip intensity or blood lactate levels. The metabolic stimulus did not change the heart rate response to mechanical movement. This baseline data does not yet prove safety or efficacy for critically ill patients.
• OTPilot2024Preliminary effectiveness and production time and costs of three-dimensional printed orthoses in chronic hand conditions: an interventional feasibility study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFor people with chronic hand conditions, 3D-printed orthoses did not improve daily hand use compared with their usual orthoses. Participants were more satisfied with the 3D-printed device at 1 month, and it took less time and cost less to make.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Enhancing touch sensibility with sensory electrical stimulation and sensory retraining.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSub-threshold electrical stimulation improved texture discrimination within the treated group, but the difference versus sham failed significance after correction. Stimulation increased scanning speed and brain activity, yet no direct clinical benefit was proven for patients.
• PTOTCohort2024The use of accelerometer bracelets to evaluate arm motor function over a stroke rehabilitation period - an explorative observational study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChange in wrist movement over stroke rehab did not track change in clinical arm function, although readings matched arm function scores at the start and were still related at the end. Ten of 18 patients did not change their self-reported arm use.
• PTOTCohort2024Improving physical movement during stroke rehabilitation: investigating associations between sleep measured by wearable actigraphy technology, fatigue, and key biomarkers.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 18 stroke inpatients, no sleep link was found for affected-side movement. More night wakings tracked with weaker non-affected grip, and longer time to fall asleep tracked with better non-affected block performance. Fatigue was common but not linked to movement.
• OTQualitative2024Clinical Utility and Usability of the Digital Box and Block Test: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesFour occupational therapists rated a digital Box and Block Test prototype as more professional and easier to evaluate than the wooden version, though bulkier to transport. They suggested softer block edges and audible end-of-test signals.
• PTOTCohort2024The independence of impairments in proprioception and visuomotor adaptation after stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke survivors with impaired position sense still adapted to visual distortions at normal rates. Proprioceptive deficits and visuomotor adaptation impairments occur independently, so a patient’s poor body awareness does not predict their ability to learn from visual feedback.
• PTOTCohort2024Quantifying the effects of sleep on sensor-derived variables from upper limb accelerometry in people with and without upper limb impairment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearing wrist sensors overnight barely changed arm-use time summaries. Sleep added 19 minutes to dominant or unaffected arm time and 17.4 minutes to non-dominant or affected arm time over 48 hours.
• PTOTRCT2024Effectiveness of action observation treatment based on pathological model in hemiplegic children: a randomized-controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineChildren with hemiplegia who watched videos of a hand with similar movement patterns and then copied the actions improved more in spontaneous bimanual hand use immediately after 8 hours of therapy than those who watched typically developed hands. This advantage disappeared by follow-up.
• PTOTOther2024Measurement properties of movement smoothness metrics for upper limb reaching movements in people with moderate to severe subacute stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSPARC was the most dependable and best tracked upper-limb reaching improvement after subacute stroke. LDLJ was also dependable, but all three time-based smoothness measures were more affected by movement time.
• PTOTNarrative Review2024Integration of music-based game approaches with wearable devices for hand neurorehabilitation: a narrative review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable devices paired with music-based games can make hand rehabilitation more engaging and measurable. Across 16 small studies, these systems tracked finger movements and provided feedback that improved motor outcomes in stroke and spinal cord injury patients, though the evidence remains preliminary.
• PTOTRCT2024Motor imagery-based brain-computer interface rehabilitation programs enhance upper extremity performance and cortical activation in stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding motor imagery brain-computer interface training to standard therapy improved upper limb function in stroke patients more than standard therapy alone. Brain scans showed increased activation in motor and visual processing areas, which correlated with the physical improvements.
• PTOTCohort2024Motor adaptation in deaf and hearing native signers.Journal of deaf studies and deaf educationCongenitally deaf native signers adapted their arm movements as well as hearing controls when visual feedback was rotated or when a robotic force field resisted them. They also estimated their hand position accurately. Deafness did not impair these motor learning skills.
• OTCohort2024Well-designed manufacturing work improves some cognitive abilities in individuals with cognitive impairments.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWorkers with cognitive impairments improved on assembly learning, sustained attention, and visual recognition memory over two years. Finger dexterity, verbal memory, and abstract reasoning did not improve. This was observational work, not a tested intervention.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A scoping review on examination approaches for identifying tactile deficits at the upper extremity in individuals with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCurrent stroke touch tests rely on subjective patient responses at rest, often missing the active exploration used in daily life. They rarely compare against healthy controls or check peripheral nerves, limiting their ability to pinpoint where sensory pathways break down.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Evaluating the impact of virtual reality game training on upper limb motor performance in children and adolescents with developmental coordination disorder: a scoping review using the ICF framework.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVirtual reality games for upper limb skills in children with DCD mostly showed no significant improvement. However, children consistently reported high enjoyment. The evidence is limited by small, varied studies that rarely targeted upper limbs specifically.
• OTOther2023Clinical measurement of functional dart thrower's motion in patients with unilateral wrist conditions undergoing nonoperative or postoperative hand therapy.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsPatients with wrist conditions show large losses in functional dart thrower's motion compared to their unaffected side. This loss was greater in postoperative patients and correlated slightly with functional impairment, supporting the use of this specific goniometric measure in clinical hand therapy assessments.
• PTOTSurvey2023Patient satisfaction with telehealth vs in-person hand therapy: A retrospective review of results of an online satisfaction survey.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsThe study did not find a difference in satisfaction between telehealth and in-person hand therapy. Patients rated both groups highly, with scores from 4.7 to 5.0 at initial evaluations and 4.8 to 5.0 at follow-ups on a 5-star scale.
• PTOTCohort2024Muscle Activations of the Upper Extremity and Core during Elevation and Rotational Movements in Overhead Throwing Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyInjured overhead athletes showed lower upper trapezius activity during rotational arm movements compared to healthy peers. While mean muscle activation was similar during elevation tasks, injured athletes relied more on the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, suggesting compensatory stability mechanisms.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Psychometric properties of body structures and functions measures in non-surgical thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A systematic review.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsFor non-surgical thumb arthritis, only a few objective tests have proven reliability. Use the Kapandji index for opposition, the intermetacarpal distance method for abduction, and three pain-free trials with standard dynamometers for grip and pinch. Avoid unvalidated dexterity or sensory measures.
• PTOTOther2024A scoping review on active vs. passive range of motion approaches to treat heterotopic ossification at the elbow.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesLittle evidence supports active or passive elbow range-of-motion exercises for heterotopic ossification. Five studies show mixed outcomes, so treatment needs team discussion rather than a proven protocol.
• OTSurvey2024Work interruptions of office workers: The influence of the complexity of primary work tasks on the perception of interruptions.Work (Reading, Mass.)More counted interruptions were linked to feeling overloaded, and feeling overloaded was linked to higher self-rated workload. The link between counted interruptions and feeling overloaded was stronger when tasks were more complex.
• PTOTOther2024Validity and reliability of the chronic composite XA, an upper limb motor assessment using Active Range of Motion in patients with chronic stroke.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 28 chronic stroke patients, a quick arm movement score against resistance tracked standard arm tests and stayed stable on retesting. Adding shoulder and forearm measurements improved the score. A gain above 64 degrees was needed to call change real.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Noninvasive analysis of overactive muscle structure and elasticity after botulinum toxin type A injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBotulinum toxin injections temporarily improve muscle elasticity at four weeks, but show no structural change at short-term. At long-term, muscle volume decreases in children with cerebral palsy. This suggests caution regarding reinjection timing in this population.
• PTOTOther2024The Functional Dexterity Test in Adult Populations: An Exploration of a Simplified Test Protocol and Parameters Guided by Statistical Outcomes.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsA simplified Functional Dexterity Test scored as speed, without penalties, showed dexterity declines linearly with age in healthy adults. Dominant hands were faster by 0.054 pegs per second, and males faster by 0.047 pegs per second.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Neural basis of lower-limb visual feedback therapy: an EEG study in healthy subjects.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWatching video feedback of a moving leg activated the brain's motor areas, but adding mental imagery or physical movement to the viewing caused much stronger brain activity and post-movement validation signals. Passive watching alone did not trigger these stronger effects.
• PTOTOther2024Use of cortical hemodynamic responses in digital therapeutics for upper limb rehabilitation in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain activation data to digital rehab scores improved the accuracy of classifying stroke patients' motor impairment severity. Patients with limited function showed increased brain activity in motor and planning areas, while those with better function showed no significant activation.
• OTPilot2023Usability of a mobile phone application to enhance activities of daily living in occupational therapy services for breast cancer survivors.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTTwenty-nine breast cancer survivors rated the MAIA app 63 out of 100 for usability after one month. The app lets occupational therapists send activity advice, but the app study measured usability only.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Mapping Effectiveness Studies of Occupational Therapy in Africa: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalEffectiveness studies of occupational therapy in Africa are emerging, mostly from South Africa. Most reported positive outcomes, particularly in physical rehabilitation and hand therapy. Paediatric evidence was less consistent. Systematic reviews are now feasible to determine actual strength of evidence.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Are Middle- or Older-Aged Adults With a Spinal Cord Injury Engaging in Leisure-Time Physical Activity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationLeisure activity in adults over 45 with spinal cord injury varies wildly. While the average moderate-to-heavy activity was 173 minutes per week, between 27% and 64% of participants reported doing none at all. This gap means you cannot assume your patients are active enough to protect their heart health.
• OTOther2023Assessment of sensory impairment of the upper limb post-stroke by occupational therapists within the acute setting: A mixed methods study exploring current clinical practice.The British journal of occupational therapySurveyed acute stroke occupational therapists reported standardised sensory assessment use: always 3, usually 11, sometimes 21, rarely 33, never 13. Time and resources made full assessment hard, despite therapists seeing it as their role.
• OTOther2023The standardised Malay version of purdue pegboard test: Content validity and test-retest reliability testing.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Malay wording of the Purdue Pegboard Test was accepted by experts, but one trial gave poor repeat scores. Three trials made scores steadier, though retest scores rose, likely practice.
• OTQualitative2023"Surthriving" Hand Rehabilitation: Proposing Interventions to Support Novice Occupational Therapists Working in Underserved Contexts.Occupational therapy internationalNovice occupational therapists in underserved South African public services described being submerged by poverty, strained systems, inadequate hand care, and insurmountable caseloads. They moved from no idea to some idea and said they needed immediate supervision, resources, and emotional support.
• PTOTCohort2024Influence of virtual reality and task complexity on digital health metrics assessing upper limb function.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor people with MS, virtual reality assessments were more responsive to rehabilitation changes than physical tasks, despite the physical tasks having lower variability and higher usability. Neither method proved significantly more reliable or valid for detecting upper limb function.
• PTOTCohort2024Active use of local exercise facilities can improve physical performance of community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy scienceOlder adults using community exercise rooms at least 48 times over two years maintained grip strength, while those who never used them declined. Balance and walking speed did not improve for any group. Simply having a place to exercise supported strength maintenance.
• OTCase Report2024Efficacy of mental practice on paralyzed upper extremity function in the acute phase of stroke: a case study.Journal of physical therapy scienceA patient with acute stroke palsy received mental practice combined with mirror therapy. Her upper limb function scores improved from zero to 25 on the Fugl-Meyer assessment. This single case does not prove the treatment works, but suggests early combined therapy is feasible.
• PTOTRCT2024Differential training benefits and motor unit remodeling in wrist force precision tasks following high and low load blood flow restriction exercises under volume-matched conditions.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn young adults, low-load blood flow restriction training improved wrist force precision, while high-load training produced greater strength gains. Neither protocol was superior for both outcomes; the training load determines whether you gain steadiness or raw power.
• OTOther2024Technical-tactical behavior analysis of general duty police officers during non-compliant suspect apprehensions: A novel approach to establish minimum force requirements.Work (Reading, Mass.)Police officers rarely struck suspects during apprehension simulations. They used grappling moves, especially two-hand pulls. The wrist required 54 kg of force to destabilize. Forearm, chest, and back needed less. This informs physical employment standards for law enforcement.
• PTOTPilot2024Effects of electrical stimulation of antagonist muscles on shoulder joint adduction force and grip strength.Journal of physical therapy scienceStimulating the deltoid muscle lowered the force needed to hold a healthy young man's shoulder in adduction. Stimulating the finger extensor did not lower grip strength. This was done in 15 healthy adults, not patients, so it cannot yet guide care for bedridden older adults.
• PTOTCohort2024Association between regional phase angle and level of locomotion among older females requiring long-term care in a health facility.Journal of physical therapy scienceRegional phase angle in the lower limbs decreased significantly across three levels of mobility, from walking to assisted wheelchair use. This suggests phase angle may reflect physical decline in immobile older women, offering a potential marker for monitoring muscle quality without requiring active effort.
• PTOTRCT2024Effect of electrode attachment location for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief in lumbar vertebral body fractures.Journal of physical therapy scienceTENS applied to the lumbar region or lower limbs reduced pain during movement for the first two weeks after bed rest began. Placement on the arms had little effect. Pain relief did not improve daily function or reduce fear of pain, and benefits disappeared by week three.
• OTOther2024Smart ArM: a customizable and versatile robotic arm prosthesis platform for Cybathlon and research.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSmart ArM is a customizable trans-humeral robotic prosthesis research platform, not a proven clinical treatment. It lets researchers reprogram elbow, wrist, and hand control, but battery life and the need for supervision limit daily use.
• PTOTOther2024Perspectives on the comparative benefits of body-powered and myoelectric upper limb prostheses.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBody-powered and myoelectric prostheses showed no consistent functional advantage. Performance depended more on the specific task and individual factors like cause of limb loss than device type. Prescription should focus on patient needs rather than assuming one design is superior.
• OTOther2024Effectiveness of mixed reality-based rehabilitation on hands and fingers by individual finger-movement tracking in patients with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChronic stroke patients using an MR board for four weeks improved hand function, finger movement, and perceived recovery. No control group means we cannot know if this training caused the changes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Effects of simultaneous short-term neuromuscular electrical stimulation and static stretching on calf muscles.Journal of physical therapy scienceFour minutes of simultaneous static stretching and electrical stimulation improved ankle flexibility in healthy young adults. The change exceeded measurement error. Because there was no control group, it is unclear if this is better than stretching alone.
• OTCohort2024The Bead Maze Hand Function Test for Children.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationThe Bead Maze Hand Function Test showed excellent agreement between raters and correlated with standard hand speed measures in 23 typically developing children. Force measures changed with age and task complexity, offering information that time-based tests alone do not capture.
• PTOTOther2024Robotic assessment of bilateral and unilateral upper limb functions in adults with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdults with mild to moderate cerebral palsy were most often impaired on a robotic bilateral asymmetric hitting task, even when their everyday object handling was rated as mild. Symmetric and unilateral reaching tasks identified fewer impairments.
• PTOTPilot2024Smartwatch-based functional assessment for upper extremity impairment after musculoskeletal injuries: A pilot study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTSmartwatch movement data correlated with clinical scores in ten patients with shoulder injuries. Smoothness metrics tracked elbow and forearm function. This suggests wearable sensors could monitor rehab progress, but the tiny sample and single device mean it is not yet a reliable clinical tool.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Comparison of ultrasound- vs. landmark-guided injections for musculoskeletal pain: an umbrella review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineUltrasound guidance is consistently more accurate than landmark techniques for joint injections. However, this precision rarely translates to better pain relief or function for the shoulder, with most studies showing no significant clinical difference between the two methods.
• OTCase Series2024Using eye tracking to assess learning of a multifunction prosthetic hand: an exploratory study from a rehabilitation perspective.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTwo of three upper-limb amputees completed one-year follow-up and showed faster standardized tasks and less hand-focused gaze. In self-chosen daily tasks, they looked first at objects, not the hand.