Exploring factors for prescription and validation of actuated upper limb devices: an online survey of allied health professionals (Preliminary Results)

Description

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the population of those affected by muscle weakness in the hands and wrist continues to grow. Conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury paralysis, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy have been shown to affect the hand and wrist’s ability to function in activities of daily living and therefore reduce quality of life. Assistive devices are being incorporated in the retraining and recovery for some of these conditions, but rehabilitation treatment and assistance may be required outside of a clinical setting. Assistive devices may also provide additional strength, function and prehension to users wanting independence and support.

Previous studies have designed assistive devices that can be used in everyday life, these include exoskeletons and powered orthoses. These devices show mechanical potential but lack clinical outcome measures during validation. The lack of clinical outcome measures makes it difficult to assess usability. It also makes assistive devices difficult to compare for decision-making when prescribing. This research would allow the workforce who develop, assess, and prescribe assistive devices the opportunity to provide their opinions and experiences in a manner that can be analysed and presented as evidence.

This evidence may support standards and guidelines for future design and validation of assistive devices for muscle weakness in the hands and wrists.

Period	24 Apr 2024
Held at	Mechanobiology Research Group, United Kingdom