Enhancing Hand Motor Recovery Post-Stroke: A Comparative Study of Robotic vs. Conventional Mirror Therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of using a robotic exoskeletal hand (RMT) combined with mirror therapy (MT) in hand rehabilitation for post-stroke patients, compared to conventional MT.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Conducted from November 2023 to February 2024.

Participants: 40 post-stroke subjects.

Interventions: Participants were divided into two groups: one received robotic exoskeletal hand therapy combined with mirror therapy (RMT+MT), and the other received conventional mirror therapy (MT). The intervention lasted for 6 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures: Hand motor function abilities were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) - Hand Motor Domain, and finger dexterity was evaluated with the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT).

Results: The RMT group showed significant improvement in hand motor function, with a median FMA-UE-Hand Motor Domain score increasing from 6 to 14 (p = 0.000). Finger dexterity also improved significantly in the RMT group (p = 0.000). The conventional MT group demonstrated significant improvements in both the FMA-UE-Hand Motor Domain (p = 0.001) and NHPT (p = 0.000). However, the RMT group achieved greater improvements, with significant differences between the two groups in both FMA-UE-Hand Motor Domain (p = 0.038) and NHPT (p = 0.026) scores.

Conclusion: RMT is significantly more effective in restoring hand motor skills and improving finger dexterity in post-stroke rehabilitation patients compared to conventional MT.