Robot Hand May Speed Stroke Recovery

It helps patients regain ability to grasp, pinch objects, designers say

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Robot technology is giving debilitated stroke patients a helping hand -- literally.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, say a robotic hand is helping patients regain strength and movement so they can perform simple acts such as grasping and releasing objects.

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"Robots may help patients reduce disability after stroke," said lead researcher Dr. Steven C. Cramer, an associate professor of neurology, anatomy and neurobiology. "People who had weakness months to years after stroke were able to have better movement in their arm and hand as a result of the robot therapy."

Cramer was scheduled to describe the new device, called the Hand-Wrist Assisting Robotic Device (HOWARD), on Wednesday at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting, in San Francisco.

In the study, Cramer and colleagues worked with seven women and six men, averaging 63 years of age, who had suffered a stroke.

More than three months after their stroke, all the patients had moderate weakness and reduced function in their right hand, although the hand was not totally paralyzed or unable to feel.

The researchers first tested the remaining strength in the right hand and how well patients could squeeze. "We also looked at things people would care about -- things like picking up a cup and holding it without spilling it," Cramer explained.

During the sessions, the patient's hand was strapped to the robot. "As they moved their hand, these metal brackets, Velcro-ed to the back of the hand, measured how well they were moving," Cramer said. "If they couldn't finish the movement, the robot would finish the movement for them," he explained.

The movement coupled squeezing the hand and extending the wrist, Cramer said. "The patients practiced both grasping and releasing everyday objects," he said.

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