Upper Extremity Functional Improvements in Persons with SCI Resulted from Daily Utilization of Myoelectric Powered Wearable Orthotics

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition. It is estimated that 17,700 new traumatic SCI cases are reported each year in the United States. Approximately half of those cases, involves paralysis, sensory loss, and impaired motor control in the upper extremity (UE) and lower extremities. Such impairments could affect the person’s independence as well as their family members and caregiver. The limitation at the UE can significantly limit the general activities of daily living (ADL). The purpose of this paper is to determine the daily utilization effects on changing the handgrip AROM and handgrip forces before and after providing upper extremity in-clinic rehabilitation along with at-home utilization using an UE myoelectric powered wearable orthosis (UE-MPWO) in a person with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). This device helps restore function to the weakened or paralyzed UE muscles. We demonstrate that the handgrip AROM and handgrip force improved after 6-weeks of training with the UE-MPWO. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of UE-MPWO (MyoPro) when utilized for in-clinic rehabilitation combined with at-home daily use in improving UE movement and function of people with iSCI.Clinical Relevance— The results of in-clinic rehabilitation combined with at-home daily utilization suggest that this UE-MPWO may improve UE function. The examined UE-MPWO could represent a relatively good example as a rehabilitation and assistive tool for persons with iSCI.