This study aimed to investigate the effect of novel rehabilitation system, Rapael Smart Glove® (NEOFECT, Yongin, Korea), on recovery of upper extremity in subacute stroke patients.

Forty-one subacute stroke patients (24 females; mean age 60.4±13.3 years) with hemiparesis were enrolled from two medical centers in this prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study. All patients were treated with 40 therapeutic sessions during 4 weeks, five times a week, an hour per day. In experimental group, each session consisted of training using the Smart Glove for 30min and conventional OT (Occupational Therapy) for 30min. Control group received conventional OT for 60min per day. Functional assessments and fNIRS measurement was conducted before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 1 month after (T2) the intervention. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.

Thirty-two participants (15 experimental and 17 control groups) completed all intervention process. No serious complication was reported in both groups. Repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated that scores for FMA upper-limb parameters and all subtest scores of Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test except writing were significantly improved in experimental group compared to control group (P<0.05). In fNIRS measurement, oxyhemoglobin concentration of ipsilesional motor cortex was more increased during affected hand movement in experimental group compared to control group.

The results of this study revealed that combination of Rapael Smart Glove® training with conventional OT was more effective to improve upper limb motor function than conventional OT alone in subacute stroke patients (This research was supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI15C0570) and a grant from the NRF (NRF-2017R1A2A1A05000730) funded by the Korean government).