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Abstract

Introduction: Stroke patients often experience hand function issues, affecting daily tasks and motor skills. Left or right hemispheric strokes may cause bilateral coordination issues. The study aimed to assess the difference between right- and left-hand outcomes according to the use of soft robot and rubber ball.
Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted from July 21 to November 20, 2024, dividing patients into two groups using robotic gloves and rubber balls. Twenty rehabilitation sessions were conducted over four months, with hand functions measured using the Action Research Arm tool.
Results: The study included 68 patients with an average age of 60.13 years, over 60% of whom were right-handed. The soft robotic glove significantly enhanced gross finger and thumb movements, achieving a post-intervention score of 6.04. The overall ARAT score improved markedly, with patients using the glove scoring an average of 14.14 before the intervention, which increased to 28.50 for the left hand and from 15.23 to 30.14 for the right hand. Rubber ball users showed slight improvements for both hands. Males exhibited a stronger response in the right hand, while females responded better in the left. Both genders had similar average reflexes for each hand.
Conclusion: The average age of the patients was 60, and there were more males than females in both groups. The right hand improved at a higher rate than the left with both the soft robotic glove and rubber ball, and rehabilitation outcomes were better for men than women.