You do know survivors want spasticity cured; NOT 'MANAGED'! Or are you that blitheringly stupid?
Development of a wrist and hand stretching device for managing spasticity in stroke patients: a pilot study
Phillip Siwoo Kim1
Min Cheol Chang- 1J&P Robotics, Fullerton, CA, United States
- 2Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- 3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
Objectives: We developed a straightforward stretching device for the wrist and hand. To assess the device’s effectiveness in managing spasticity among chronic stroke patients.
Methods: The device, primarily constructed from plastic, comprises a forearm support module, a wrist module, and a finger module. Twenty stroke patients used the device four times daily, 7 days a week, for 1 month. Spasticity severity was measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for the wrist, thumb, and index fingers. A questionnaire evaluated the device’s feasibility and areas for improvement.
Results: Before treatment, the mean MAS scores for the wrist, thumb, and index finger flexors were 1.50 ± 0.36, 1.52 ± 0.34, and 1.50 ± 0.30, respectively, compared with 1.25 ± 0.26, 1.27 ± 0.30, and 1.32 ± 0.33 post-intervention. Patients and occupational therapists expressed satisfaction with the device, citing its ease of use, effectiveness in stretching the wrist and fingers, and overall ease of manipulation. Half of the patients reported that all fingers were easily extended. The rigid plastic finger module was subsequently replaced with an inflatable, flexible rubber ball, providing a more comfortable contour for the stretched fingers, which increased user satisfaction.
Conclusion: The stretching device effectively reduced spasticity in the wrist and hand, and the upgraded device enhanced patient satisfaction.
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