Effects of wearable device training on upper limb motor function in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To evaluate the effect of wearable device training on improving upper limb motor function in patients who experienced strokes. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and VIP databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effectiveness of wearable device training in improving upper limb motor function in patients with stroke. Two investigators independently screened studies by their titles and abstracts and cross-checked, downloaded, and evaluated the results. Disagreements were resolved by a third highly experienced researcher. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (registration No. CRD42023421633). Results This study comprised 508 patients from 14 RCTs. The experimental group assessed various wearable devices, including 3D-printed dynamic orthoses, inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, electrical stimulation devices, and virtual reality (VR) devices for virtual interactive training. The control group received traditional rehabilitation therapies, including physical and conventional rehabilitation. The experimental group scored better on the Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) scale (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07, 0.45) and Box and Block Test (BBT) (SMD 0.43, 95% CI 0.17, 0.69) versus controls. No significant intergroup differences were observed in the Action Research Arm Test (SMD 0.20, 95% CI −0.15, 0.55), motor activity log (mean difference [MD] 0.32, 95% CI −0.54, 0.33), and modified Ashworth scale (MD −0.08, 95% CI −0.81, 0.64). The probability rankings of wearable devices that improved FMA-UE scores in patients with stroke were: orthotic devices, with the highest probability ranking of 0.45, followed by sensor devices at 0.23, electrical stimulation devices at 0.21, and VR devices at 0.11. Conclusions Wearable device training was found to significantly improve upper limb motor function in patients with stroke, particularly for large-range movements. Improvements in FMA-UE and BBT scores reflected reduced impairment and enhanced manual dexterity, respectively. However, the training had no significant effect on hand movement frequency, fine motor skills, or spasticity. Among the different wearable devices tested, orthoses produced the most effective results.