Instrumented i-GRASP for the assessment and treatment of upper extremity function after neurological injury

中风和创伤性脑损伤等神经疾病会严重损害一个人使用手臂和手进行日常生活基本活动的能力。我们已经开发了分级重复手臂补充程序(GRASH)，该程序已在多点随机对照试验中得到证明，通过数百次手臂、手和手指的重复以及加强练习来改善中风后的上肢功能。它被3000多个地点使用，是加拿大中风最佳实践推荐的一部分。在理想的监督条件下，该计划是有效的，但坚持下去是有问题的，因为很难跟踪许多重复的情况，可能会很难知道如何继续增加任务的难度，并且缺乏反馈来激励个人进行练习。I-GRASH将通过开发一个源自循证GRASH计划的仪器平台来解决这些问题，在该平台上，患者将能够1)测量自己的上肢功能，2)通过渐进性练习改善他们的功能，3)并接收反馈以帮助推动他们的进步。我们的团队是工程师和医疗保健研究人员的合作伙伴，我们的合作伙伴包括Aawearable传感器公司、一家公共部门康复医院和一家私人康复诊所，以确保我们产品的相关性。拟议中的测量、激励和增强手功能的技术将改善中风患者的生活，并将适用于其他手部问题人群。该项目还将推进与智能材料和可穿戴传感器相关的技术。最后，这项研究有很大的商业化潜力，行业合作伙伴德克萨斯有可能为康复技术开辟新的市场，医疗服务提供者和Strokeurvor可以获得这些技术。

Neurological conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury can seriously impair onesability to use their arm and hands for essential activities of daily living. We have previouslydeveloped the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) which has beenshown in a multi-site randomized controlled trial to improve upper extremity function afterstroke through hundreds of repetitions of the arm, hand and fingers, as well as strengtheningexercises. It is utilized in over 3000 sites and is part of the Canadian Stroke Best PracticeRecommendations. Under ideal supervisory conditions, the program is effective, butadherence is problematic as it is difficult to keep track of the many repetitions, can bechallenging to know how to continually make the tasks harder, and lacks feedback to motivateindividuals to do the exercise. I-GRASP will solve these issues by developing an instrumentedplatform derived from the evidence-based GRASP program where patients will be able to 1)measure their own upper extremity function, 2) improve their function through progressiveexercises and 3) and receive feedback to help motivate their progress. Our team is acollaboration between engineer and health care researchers and our partners include awearable sensor company, a public sector rehabilitation hospital, and a private rehabilitationclinic to ensure the relevance of our product. The proposed technology to measure, motivateand enhance hand function will improve the lives of individuals with stroke and will beapplicable to other populations with hand problems. The project will also advancetechnologies related to smart materials and wearable sensors. Lastly, the research has greatpotential for commercialization by the industry partner Texavie and to potentially open newmarkets for rehabilitation technology that can be accessed by health providers and strokesurvivors.