Assessment of the effects of rehabilitation in the area of hand function using a Biometrics device in people after stroke -a randomised controlled trial

Additional therapy provides more recovery. It doesn't prove the Biometric device created that recovery. In fact I would assume that the participants are using the Hawthorne effect to please the researchers.

 Assessment of the effects of rehabilitation in the area of hand function using a Biometrics device in people after stroke -a randomised controlled trial

Justyna Leszczak^1*Bogumiła Pniak^1,2Grzegorz Gazda²Agnieszka Guzik¹

• ¹Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology, Collegium Medicum, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland, Rzeszów, Poland
• ²Excelsior Health and Rehabilitation Hospital, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Poland, Iwonicz Zdrój, Poland

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The aim of the study was to assess the effects of rehabilitation using the Biometrics device on the re-education of hand function in people in the late period after stroke patients. 

Methods: 

The data were collected from 1 August 2022 to 28 February 2023. The study was conducted among 120 people after stroke, who were randomly assigned to the test group (n=60) orand the control groups (n=60). Both groups were provided with a 3-weekThe rehabilitation program lasted 3 weeks and tookfor 2 hours a day for both groups. While tThe control group received traditional physiotherapy, t. The test group additionally underwent biofeedback training. The first eExaminations werewas performed on the first day and of rehabilitation, the second examination was performed on the finallast day of the 3-week intervention program (at discharge). The primary measurement included assessment of hand grip strength (key, three jaw chuck, tip-to-tip) using an electronic dynamometer and a Biometrics E-link pinchmeter. Secondary outcomes included hand motor function assessment, using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Hand Function scale, hand motor dexterity with the Box and Blocks test, hand grip functions according to the Frenchay scale, and functional fitness with the Barthel index. 

Results: 

In the test group, significant rehabilitation effects were observed for the assessment of grip strength, finger compression strength, manual hand dexterity, grip function and everyday activities of daily living (p<0.001; p=0.001), while in the control group results were improved for grip strength and finger compression strength (key and three-jaw chuck) of the right hand (p=0.012; p=0.017; p=0.001) and manual dexterity (p<0.001), motor abilities and daily activities of daily living (p<0.001).The study showed positive effects of hand function rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients in the late period in both groups. However, in the test group, which additionally underwent training that stimulated the central nervous system using the biofeedback method with the Biometrics device, better hand and finger grip function of the hand and fingers, as well as hand motor and manual function of the hand were noted.

Keywords: Rehabilitation, Upper limb, Stroke, Do lewej, Bez punktorów lub numeracji -sformatowano: Czcionka: Kursywa Sformatowano: Wcięcie: Z lewej: 1, 27 cm, Bez punktorów lub numeracji

Received: 08 Jun 2025; Accepted: 22 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Leszczak, Pniak, Gazda and Guzik. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Justyna Leszczak, Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology, Collegium Medicum, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland, Rzeszów, Poland

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.