Closed-loop versus open-loop “remind-to-move” treatment using wearables for hemiparetic upper extremity in patients after stroke: A proof-of-concept study

This is a proof-of-concept study to compare the effects of a 2-week program of “Remind-to-move” (RTM) treatment using closed-loop and open-loop wearables for hemiparetic upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke in the community. The RTM open-loop wearable device has been proven in our previou...

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Main Authors: Kenneth N. K. Fong, Jasmine P. Y. Pak, Alissa H. L. Koo, Maggie M. K. Szeto, Natalie M. T. Wong, Keily K. Y. Yau, Sharon F. M. Toh, Vivian W. Lou, Hector W. H. Tsang, Gary K. K. Lau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Wearable Technologies
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100170/type/journal_article
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Summary:This is a proof-of-concept study to compare the effects of a 2-week program of “Remind-to-move” (RTM) treatment using closed-loop and open-loop wearables for hemiparetic upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke in the community. The RTM open-loop wearable device has been proven in our previous studies to be useful to address the learned nonuse phenomenon of the hemiparetic upper extremity. A closed-loop RTM wearable device, which emits reminding cues according to actual arm use, was developed in this study. A convenience sample of 16 participants with chronic unilateral stroke recruited in the community was engaged in repetitive upper extremity task-specific practice for 2 weeks while wearing either a closed-loop or an open-loop ambulatory RTM wearable device on their affected hand for 3 hrs a day. Evaluations were conducted at pre-/post-intervention and follow-up after 4 weeks using upper extremity motor performance behavioral measures, actual arm use questionnaire, and the kinematic data obtained from the device. Results showed that both open-loop and closed-loop training groups achieved significant gains in all measures at posttest and follow-up evaluations. The closed-loop group showed a more significant improvement in movement frequency, hand functions, and actual arm use than did the open-loop group. Our findings supported the use of closed-loop wearables, which showed greater effects in terms of promoting the hand use of the hemiparetic upper extremity than open-loop wearables among patients with chronic stroke.
ISSN:2631-7176