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 19 OF 27 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2024Soft pneumatic actuators for pushing fingers into extension.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new soft glove uses palm-side air chambers to help fingers straighten. In one person, it allowed a finger to bend and straighten back in 1.1 seconds. This speed supports rapid, repetitive practice of finger movements for hand rehabilitation.
• OTQualitative2025Music Upper Limb Therapy - Integrated (MULT-I) supports a positive transformation in sense of self post stroke: a thematic analysis.Disability and rehabilitationStroke survivors described a three-stage shift in self-perception during group music therapy. Enjoyment and autonomy in playing instruments engaged them, peer support helped process distress, and a sense of belonging fostered acceptance of their changed abilities and strengths.
• PTOTOther2025Therapeutic Approaches for the Prevention of Upper Limb Repetitive Strain Injuries in Work-Related Computer Use: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitationErgonomic equipment was the most common prevention strategy found, but evidence for its effectiveness was mixed. Multi-component approaches combining equipment, training, and policy showed more promise than single interventions alone.
• PTOTCohort2024The Kinematics of 3D Arm Movements in Sub-Acute Stroke: Impaired Inter-Joint Coordination is Attributable to Both Weakness and Flexor Synergy Intrusion.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn sub-acute stroke, impaired arm coordination is driven by both weakness and flexor synergy intrusion. Weakness alone can lower Fugl-Meyer scores without synergy presence, meaning clinical scales may reflect distinct underlying deficits depending on the patient.
• PTOTRCT2024Feasibility of a home-based home videogaming intervention with a family-centered approach for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEleven children improved on at least one chosen upper-limb daily activity after an 8-week home program that included videogame play, weekly monitoring calls and family goal setting. Only three of 13 met their weekly active playtime goal for six weeks.
• PTOTOther2024Early Daily Activity: Development and description of an occupation-based intervention for surgically repaired distal radius Fractures.Clinical rehabilitationEarly Daily Activity is a new protocol for wrist fracture rehab that replaces prescribed exercises with light daily tasks like cooking or folding laundry. It has not been tested for effectiveness, so use it only as a structured framework for discussion, not as proven care.
• OTCohort2025Transitioning vision rehabilitation patients from over-the-counter magnifiers to prescribed aids.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyMost patients who bought their own magnifiers found them unhelpful, yet clinicians successfully prescribed better aids to them. Trying an over-the-counter magnifier predicted a higher chance of receiving and keeping a prescribed optical or electronic device, rather than blocking further care.
• PTOTSurvey2025Clinician perceptions of a novel wearable robotic hand orthosis for post-stroke hemiparesis.Disability and rehabilitationMost therapists said they would use this prototype hand device for both therapy and daily tasks. They preferred supervised clinical settings over home use and wanted setup to take under five minutes. This reflects their opinions on a video demonstration, not proven patient outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Learning-to-learn as a metacognitive correlate of functional outcomes after stroke: a cohort study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineStroke survivors who improved their motor learning speed during a brief computerized task achieved greater gains in daily independence. This link was strongest in younger participants. The association weakened with age, suggesting learning capacity may decline as a predictor of recovery in older adults.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Considerations for developing complex post-stroke upper limb behavioural interventions: An international qualitative study.Clinical rehabilitationExperts and stroke survivors agreed that upper limb recovery needs complex, personalised interventions where engagement, content, dose, and the therapist's skill interact. They warned against treating any single element in isolation, emphasizing that real-world participation matters as much as impairment scores.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Brain-Hand Function Relationships Based on Level of Grasp Function in Chronic Left-Hemisphere Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairHand function relates to different brain networks depending on severity. In severe grasp impairment, contralesional connectivity matters most. In moderate impairment, corticospinal tract integrity predicts function. In mild impairment, neither motor connectivity nor tract integrity correlated with hand function.
• PTOTOther2024Combined knee osteoarthritis and diabetes is associated with reduced muscle strength, physical inactivity, and poorer quality of life.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOlder adults with both knee osteoarthritis and diabetes had significantly lower muscle strength and physical activity than those with either condition alone. However, diabetes did not worsen knee pain, and the combined group did not show higher fall risk than those with knee pain alone.
• PTOTOther2024Shaping corticospinal pathways in virtual reality: effects of task complexity and sensory feedback during mirror therapy in neurologically intact individuals.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationUnilateral mirroring and complex tasks increased brain-to-muscle excitability in healthy adults. However, adding visuo-tactile stimulation decreased excitability. This suggests complex tasks may prime therapy, but sensory feedback before mirroring might inhibit the neural response.
• PTOTRCT2025A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection for the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults after stroke or traumatic brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or TBI, at Week 6 the highest DAXI dose lowered muscle tone more than placebo, but physician-rated overall improvement did not.
• PTOTRCT2024Efficacy of a new video observational training method (intensive visual simulation) for motor recovery in the upper limb in subacute stroke: a feasibility and proof-of-concept study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEarly intensive video feedback training did not significantly improve upper limb function compared to control at 6 weeks, but showed greater recovery at 3 and 4 months. Both groups improved similarly by 6 months, with no significant difference remaining.
• PTOTRCT2024Effects of high-definition tDCS targeting individual motor hotspot with EMG-driven robotic hand training on upper extremity motor function: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn this small pilot trial, adding personalized brain stimulation before robotic hand training led to greater improvements in arm motor function and reduced finger stiffness compared to robotic training alone. These benefits were still present six months later. The study was too small to confirm this works for everyone.
• PTOTCase Report2024A confounding pediatric spinal cord injury: Anterior, central, or both?Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA two-year-old with a cervical spinal cord injury recovered distal arm function before proximal strength. This atypical pattern, combined with conflicting imaging and clinical signs, makes standard adult prognostic models unreliable for predicting long-term recovery in young children.
• PTOTCohort2024Analysis and relationship between the volume of upper limb lymphoedema and pressure pain threshold, neural range of motion, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, pain hypervigilance and catastrophizing in breast cancer survivors.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBreast cancer survivors with lymphoedema had higher sensitivity to pressure pain and greater fear of movement than those without. However, the actual volume of the swollen limb did not correlate with pain intensity or fear levels. Treating the swelling size alone may not address the patient's pain experience.
• PTOTRCT2024Enhancing upper extremity muscle strength in individuals with spinal cord injury using low-intensity blood flow restriction exercise.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn ten people with spinal cord injury, low-intensity blood flow restriction exercise increased forearm strength by 7.5 kg over 8 weeks, compared to 4.4 kg with standard high-load training without blood flow restriction. Both groups improved, but the blood flow restriction side gained more.
• PTOTRCT2024Effects of mirror therapy in post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome type-1: a randomized controlled study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding mirror therapy to standard hand rehabilitation for acute post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome did not improve pain, strength, or function more than standard care alone. Both groups improved similarly, so mirror therapy offered no extra benefit.
• PTOTPilot2024Enhancing stroke rehabilitation with whole-hand haptic rendering: development and clinical usability evaluation of a novel upper-limb rehabilitation device.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTherapists and stroke patients rated a new whole-hand haptic robot as easy to use and motivating. The main practical issue was that patients' fingers slipped out of the device fixation, which requires a design fix before this can be used reliably in daily therapy.
• PTOTOther2024Analysis of electrode locations on limb condition effect for myoelectric pattern recognition.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWrist sEMG electrodes provide the most accurate gesture recognition, especially for fine finger movements, and remain robust during dynamic arm swings. Training classifiers with data from just four limb conditions significantly improves accuracy without excessive time.
• PTOTCase Report2024Exceptional improvement in chronic stroke through Guided Self-rehabilitation Contract: a case report study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA chronic stroke patient who received guided self-rehabilitation, botulinum toxin, functional electrical stimulation, workshops, and family support regained full spontaneous upper limb use. Because several components were combined, the contribution of guided self-rehabilitation alone cannot be separated.
• PTOTOther2024Chronic stroke survivors underestimate their upper limb motor ability in a simple 2D motor task.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a simple reaching task, chronic stroke survivors were less confident about hitting targets with the more affected arm even when both arms reached targets equally often. Low confidence in that arm may not match what they can do.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Impact of the combination of virtual reality and noninvasive brain stimulation on the upper limb motor function of stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining virtual reality with brain stimulation improved arm movement scores more than standard care, but did not significantly improve daily living activities or muscle tone. Benefits were strongest in patients treated within a year of stroke onset, suggesting this combo helps motor recovery rather than overall independence.
• PTOTOther2024A reliable and valid assessment of upper limb movement quality after stroke: the observational Drinking Task Assessment.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Drinking Task Assessment reliably scores upper limb movement quality after stroke in 5 to 10 minutes. It correlates strongly with standard tests like the ARAT and Fugl-Meyer. A change of 1 point in the total score or 1 second in movement time reflects real improvement, not just measurement error.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation alone or in combination with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in poststroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRepetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation improved upper limb movement and daily activities in stroke patients compared to sham or no stimulation. Adding transcranial magnetic stimulation did not provide extra benefit over transcranial magnetic stimulation alone. Higher stimulation doses were linked to better activity outcomes.
• OTRCT2025Wrist Stabilising Exercise Versus Hand Orthotic Intervention for Persons with Hypermobility - A Randomised Clinical Trial.Clinical rehabilitationWrist stabilising exercises, plus hand anatomy and ergonomic advice, did not outperform a hand orthosis, plus the same advice, for activity, hand function or pain in hypermobility. Neither showed clear advantage after 12 weeks.
• PTOTCohort2024Multidisciplinary Home-Based Rehabilitation Program for Individuals With Disabilities: Longitudinal Observational Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesBalance scores increased after a 4-month home rehabilitation program in 270 people with moderate musculoskeletal or neurological disabilities. Depression scores showed no clear change. Many therapies were given together, so no single treatment can be credited.
• PTOTCohort2024Acceptability, validity and responsiveness of inertial measurement units for assessing motor recovery after gene therapy in infants with early onset spinal muscular atrophy: a prospective cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors on wrists, feet and elbows were tolerated during 25-minute tests in infants with SMA after gene therapy. Movement measures tracked motor scores and increased over 12 months, with elbow and foot sensors linked to unaided sitting.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Improved functional oral intake and exercise training attenuate decline in aerobic capacity following chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAerobic capacity and grip strength dropped significantly after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients, with no recovery at 6-8 weeks. Patients who chose supervised exercise training had less decline. Improved swallowing function was strongly linked to better preserved aerobic capacity.
• PTOTOther2024Home-based guidance training system with interactive visual feedback using kinect on stroke survivors with moderate to severe motor impairment.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter 800 min of therapist-guided home Kinect training, 12 moderate-to-severe stroke survivors improved Fugl-Meyer scores and joint range of motion, but Berg Balance Scale did not improve.
• PTOTCohort2024Brain-movement relationship during upper-limb functional movements in chronic post-stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients rely on trunk movement and show slower arm speed when reaching with the paretic arm. Their brain activity increases in both hemispheres during these tasks, reflecting compensatory effort rather than efficient motor control.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Motor Control Adherence to the Two-thirds Power Law Differs in Autistic Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children aged 4 to 8 showed steeper velocity changes when drawing curves on an iPad compared to typically developing peers. They also exhibited higher jerk, indicating less smooth movement. These kinematic differences did not correlate with overall fine motor scores.
• PTOTOther2024Role of joint interactions in upper limb joint movements: a disability simulation study using wearable inertial sensors for 3D motion capture.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRestricting one upper limb joint significantly reduced range of motion at other, non-instructed joints in healthy adults. This confirms that joint interactions heavily influence movement, suggesting clinicians should assess and treat the whole kinetic chain rather than isolated joints.
• OTPilot2024Responses of several measures to different intensity levels of upper limb exergames in children with neurological diagnoses: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn children with neurological diagnoses playing upper limb exergames, heart rate variability, movement repetitions per minute, and Borg perceived exertion changed with therapist-set intensity. Skin conductance did not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Instrumented assessment of lower and upper motor neuron signs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using robotic manipulation: an explorative study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA robotic wrist test detected signs of upper motor neuron loss in ALS patients. The machine measured increased reflexive force feedback, which correlated with clinical severity scores. This offers a potential objective tool to distinguish upper from lower motor neuron damage, though the sample was small and exploratory.
• OTCohort2025Percutaneous ultrasound-guided A1 pulley release utilizing a modified 20-gauge spinal needle.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationIn 40 fingers from 30 patients, a procedure using lidocaine, hydrodissection, ultrasound-guided modified needle release, and steroid injection had no recurrence at 6 to 32 months and one complication. This small case series cannot separate the components.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Selective nociceptive modulation using a novel prototype of transcutaneous kilohertz high-frequency alternating current stimulation: a crossover double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation40 kHz transcutaneous kilohertz stimulation raised pressure pain thresholds in healthy volunteers more than sham, with no effect on touch or strength. It was well tolerated. This is a physiological finding in pain-free people, not evidence it treats pain.
• PTOTPilot2024Paired associative stimulation improves motor function in the upper extremity in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: a corroborative study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFive people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury completed a 16-session paired associative stimulation programme. Motor scores in the treated hand rose modestly but missed statistical significance, while the untreated hand showed a small significant gain. Individual responses varied widely.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2024Examining the effectiveness of motor imagery combined with non-invasive brain stimulation for upper limb recovery in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining motor imagery with brain stimulation improved upper limb function and daily activities more than either alone in acute and subacute stroke patients. Benefits faded by four weeks after treatment ended, and the approach showed no advantage for chronic stroke survivors.
• PTOTCase Report2024Myoelectric motor execution and sensory training to treat chronic pain and paralysis in a replanted arm: a case study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA man with a replanted arm gained small amounts of movement and sensation after myoelectric training, but pain did not improve. The gains were too small for daily use, though they might help with an assistive device. One person is not proof the method works.
• PTOTPilot2024The Effect of the Mediterranean Diet-Integrated Gamified Home-Based Cognitive-Nutritional (GAHOCON) Training Programme for Older People With Cognitive Frailty: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOlder adults with cognitive frailty who used a gamified home training app improved their diet adherence, cognitive scores, and walking speed over 12 weeks. A control group doing only self-revision saw their diet knowledge drop significantly.
• PTOTOther2025The Use of Extrinsic Performance Feedback and Reward to Enhance Upper Limb Motor Behavior and Recovery Post-Stroke: A Scoping Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairFeedback during upper-limb stroke practice may change movement speed, accuracy, learning, and compensation, but studies are too varied and small to tell therapists which feedback to use.
• OTMeta-Analysis2025A Meta-Analysis of Self-Management Interventions in Teaching Daily Living Skills to Autistic Individuals.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic participants showed gains in daily living skills across 15 single-case self-management studies, but study quality was weak and community living skills were not tested.
• PTOTRCT2025Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a skill-based lifestyle intervention for enhancing cooking abilities and physical fitness in young adults with intellectual disabilities.Disability and health journalYoung adults with intellectual disabilities improved cooking independence and lower body strength after a 12-week combined cooking and exercise program. Participants gained about three independent cooking skills and 25 pounds of leg strength. The single-arm pilot lacked a control group.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Artificial intelligence tools for engagement prediction in neuromotor disorder patients during rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAI models predicted patient engagement during robot-assisted gait rehab with high accuracy. Combining heart rate and sweat signals outperformed single signals. Data augmentation further improved prediction. This supports real-time monitoring to adapt therapy intensity, but clinical utility is not yet proven.
• PTOTOther2024Design and control of a low-cost non-backdrivable end-effector upper limb rehabilitation device.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA low-cost upper limb robot moved its handle within 0.012 mm of set paths in tests on one healthy engineer. It offers passive, active and game modes, but no stroke patients were treated.
• PTOTOther2025Association between muscle strength and echogenicity using greyscale ultrasound software: a diagnostic accuracy study in kidney transplant candidates.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineUltrasound brightness of the thigh muscle correlated with lower leg strength in kidney transplant candidates. A brightness score above 70 flagged weakness with fair accuracy, but the test cannot replace direct strength measurement as a standalone screening tool.
• PTOTOther2024Evaluating inter- and intra-rater reliability in assessing upper limb compensatory movements post-stroke: creating a ground truth through video analysis?Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationExperienced therapists agreed moderately well when rating specific arm movements in stroke videos, but disagreed heavily on overall smoothness and coordination. These wide gaps mean therapist video ratings alone are not yet reliable enough to train automated assessment tools.