Requirements for a home-based rehabilitation device for hand and wrist therapy after stroke

Abstract

Recovering hand function to perform activities of daily living (ADL), is a significant step for stroke survivors experiencing paresis in their upper limb. A home-based, robot mediated training approach for the hand allows the patient to continue their training independently after discharge to maximise recovery at the patient’s pace. Developing such a hand/wrist training device that is comfortable to wear and easy to use is the objective of this work. Using a user-centred design approach, the first iteration of the design is based on the requirements derived from the users and therapists, leading to a first prototype. The prototype is then compared and evaluated against the required features. This paper highlights the methodology used in the process of validating the design against our initial brief.