Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract BackgroundForearm, wrist, and hand impairments affect many individuals and impose a significant economic burden on health care systems. The FEPSim (flexion, extension, pronation, and supination) is designed for hand and wrist rehabilitation. It could become part of th...

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Main Authors: Adriana M Ríos Rincón, Christine Guptill, Yilina Liubaoerjijin, Mathieu Figeys, Farnaz Koubasi, Geoffrey Gregson, Antonio Miguel Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-01-01
Series:JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Online Access:https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e62809
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author Adriana M Ríos Rincón
Christine Guptill
Yilina Liubaoerjijin
Mathieu Figeys
Farnaz Koubasi
Geoffrey Gregson
Antonio Miguel Cruz
author_facet Adriana M Ríos Rincón
Christine Guptill
Yilina Liubaoerjijin
Mathieu Figeys
Farnaz Koubasi
Geoffrey Gregson
Antonio Miguel Cruz
author_sort Adriana M Ríos Rincón
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundForearm, wrist, and hand impairments affect many individuals and impose a significant economic burden on health care systems. The FEPSim (flexion, extension, pronation, and supination) is designed for hand and wrist rehabilitation. It could become part of the standard care for upper extremity rehabilitation, aiming to improve range of motion, dexterity, and strength during therapeutic activities. However, the FEPSim has not yet been tested in a health care setting, highlighting the need for a trial to assess its effectiveness in upper extremity rehabilitation. ObjectiveWe aim to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial investigating the effectiveness of adding a new device for hand therapy exercises, the FEPSim, to standard care for patients with impairments of the hand, wrist, and forearm. MethodsThirty-eight patients with impairments of distal upper extremities were randomly assigned either to the intervention group (FEPSim and standard care, n=19) or to the control group (standard care, n=19). Therapeutic activities to increase strength, range of motion, resistance, and dexterity were delivered by treating hand therapists using the FEPSim device for the intervention group. Outcome measures included wrist passive and active range of motion, grip strength, pinch grip force, and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation. ResultsThe trial retention rate (36/38, 95%) and compliance (control group: 100%; intervention group: 89%) were high. The comparisons of the change-from-baseline between groups revealed that in 63.2% (12/19) of the outcome variables, the change was in favor of the FEPSim, with statistically significant improvements in passive wrist flexion (t34Pt34P ConclusionsThe FEPSim was accepted as part of standard care by therapists and patients at 2 hospitals. The trial design was feasible for hand intervention using the FEPSim device. The FEPSim positively affected grip strength, an objective measure of hand functioning.
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spelling doaj-art-d20034388b9f4fae85d8c0815aaa24d42025-02-03T16:46:34ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies2369-25292025-01-0112e62809e6280910.2196/62809Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled TrialAdriana M Ríos Rincónhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9018-9761Christine Guptillhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5080-2672Yilina Liubaoerjijinhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8782-2186Mathieu Figeyshttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7101-689XFarnaz Koubasihttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-3285-4446Geoffrey Gregsonhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0481-2036Antonio Miguel Cruzhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1618-8733 Abstract BackgroundForearm, wrist, and hand impairments affect many individuals and impose a significant economic burden on health care systems. The FEPSim (flexion, extension, pronation, and supination) is designed for hand and wrist rehabilitation. It could become part of the standard care for upper extremity rehabilitation, aiming to improve range of motion, dexterity, and strength during therapeutic activities. However, the FEPSim has not yet been tested in a health care setting, highlighting the need for a trial to assess its effectiveness in upper extremity rehabilitation. ObjectiveWe aim to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial investigating the effectiveness of adding a new device for hand therapy exercises, the FEPSim, to standard care for patients with impairments of the hand, wrist, and forearm. MethodsThirty-eight patients with impairments of distal upper extremities were randomly assigned either to the intervention group (FEPSim and standard care, n=19) or to the control group (standard care, n=19). Therapeutic activities to increase strength, range of motion, resistance, and dexterity were delivered by treating hand therapists using the FEPSim device for the intervention group. Outcome measures included wrist passive and active range of motion, grip strength, pinch grip force, and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation. ResultsThe trial retention rate (36/38, 95%) and compliance (control group: 100%; intervention group: 89%) were high. The comparisons of the change-from-baseline between groups revealed that in 63.2% (12/19) of the outcome variables, the change was in favor of the FEPSim, with statistically significant improvements in passive wrist flexion (t34Pt34P ConclusionsThe FEPSim was accepted as part of standard care by therapists and patients at 2 hospitals. The trial design was feasible for hand intervention using the FEPSim device. The FEPSim positively affected grip strength, an objective measure of hand functioning.https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e62809
spellingShingle Adriana M Ríos Rincón
Christine Guptill
Yilina Liubaoerjijin
Mathieu Figeys
Farnaz Koubasi
Geoffrey Gregson
Antonio Miguel Cruz
Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
title Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Effectiveness of a New Device for Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Rehabilitation: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort effectiveness of a new device for hand wrist and forearm rehabilitation feasibility randomized controlled trial
url https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e62809
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