Article

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel feedback device (Grasp Rehabilitation Accessory
for Stroke Patients [GRASP]) that gives feedback on the time lag between the
start of hand opening and the start of transport during reach-to-grasp movements,
and to report the results of a preliminary series of single case studies to
assess the utility of the device for improving the coordination of arm and hand
at the beginning of a reach-to-grasp movement. DESIGN: A multiple baseline design
across 6 subjects was used, with each subject performing 40 repetitions of
reaching to grasp a jar. Two subjects each performed 10, 15, or 20 randomly
assigned baseline repetitions. SETTING: Physiotherapy department or at the
participant's home. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with middle cerebral artery or
parietal stroke (n=6) were consecutively recruited from physiotherapy
departments. Additional inclusion criteria were a Rivermead Motor Assessment
score of 5 or more and time between start of hand opening and transport of more
than 60ms. INTERVENTIONS: During the intervention phase, feedback on time between
start of transport and start of grasp was communicated via GRASP. Participants
were encouraged to reduce the time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome measure was
the time between start of transport and start of grasp, measured with GRASP.
RESULTS: All participants decreased the mean time lag during the intervention
phase compared with the baseline phase. Participants 1 to 6 showed decreases of
35, 296, 34, 34, 1212, and 114ms, respectively. Two out of 6 participants
demonstrated a significant decrease in time lag in the intervention compared with
the baseline phase. CONCLUSIONS: GRASP is potentially beneficial as an adjunct to
physiotherapy training of reach-to-grasp coordination after stroke.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS