Comparative evaluation of user satisfaction in stroke rehabilitation: Wearable vs traditional electromyography biofeedback for wrist and hand dysfunction.

BACKGROUND

After a stroke, wrist and hand dysfunction usually develops from extended non-use and lack of home-based repetitive training, greatly influencing affect daily living and general quality of life. Wearable mobile and traditional electromyography biofeedback devices as biofeedback-based rehabilitation tools offer an intriguing solution for task-specific training, thereby improving user involvement and functional recovery.

PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to find out how satisfied people with wrist and hand dysfunction who had recently had a stroke were with using a wearable mobile biofeedback device (Pheezee) compared to traditional electromyography biofeedback.

STUDY

DESIGN

Crossover trial.

METHODS

Thirty subacute stroke (male 16 and female 14) participants with wrist and hand dysfunction participated in the study. All participants received 1 week of training using the Pheezee, then 1 week using traditional electromyography biofeedback. The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0) scale measured user satisfaction.

RESULTS

The Mann-Whitney U test applied for between-group comparisons. The wearable mobile biofeedback device demonstrated significantly higher user satisfaction in terms of weight, safety, durability, comfort, simplicity of use, and effectiveness (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the two modalities concerning adjustment component (p > 0.05). QUEST 2.0 device subscale total eight items were higher in the Pheezee device group (3.69 ± 0.26) compared to the traditional electromyography biofeedback device group (3.18 ± 0.18) mean and SD respectively, demonstrating a mean difference of 0.52 points (16.3% higher user satisfaction).

CONCLUSIONS

Wearable mobile biofeedback devices show promise as supportive tools in stroke rehabilitation and can be feasibly integrated into home-based task-specific training programs. Their ability to raise engagement and adherence to rehabilitation could help stroke survivors have better functional results and quality of life.