Paper on a Glove Rehabilitation Application for Stroke Patients Published in the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research

Dr. Rick Adams of Barron Associates, Inc. is first author of a paper titled “Telehealth-Guided Virtual Reality for Recovery of Upper Extremity Function Following Stroke” which has now been published in the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (DOI: 10.1177/15394492231158375). The article describes a rater-blinded, randomized control trial investigating the effectiveness of a Glove Rehabilitation Application for Stroke Patients (GRASP) virtual reality home exercise program (HEP) for upper extremity (UE) motor recovery following stroke. The study was conducted on an NIH Phase II grant (5R44HD088189). The GRASP system facilitates the use of the affected UE in simulated instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Participants were asked to use the system at home in asynchronous telehealth sessions 4 times per week over 8 weeks. A non-blinded occupational therapist provided synchronous telehealth visits biweekly. Analysis comparing pre- and post-assessment results for the Fugl-Meyer UE assessment shows a clinically important and statistically significant between-group difference for participants completing the GRASP HEP protocol compared with usual and customary care controls. Statistically significant and clinically important differences were also found in Motor Activity Log scores. This evidence provides support for the effectiveness of home-based, IADL-focused, virtual reality therapy with telehealth support using the GRASP system. Co-authors on the paper include Dr. Allison Ellington (Mary Baldwin University), Kate Kuccera (University of Virginia), Hannah Leaman (University of Virginia), Catherine Smithson (Continuum Home Health), and James Patrie (biostatistical consultant).