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Improving Arm Function Using Wearable Exoskeletons

NCT05951491 · Status: SUSPENDED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2026-05-04

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare arm and hand function with and without assistance from a wearable exoskeleton in individuals with neurological injury from a single stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Can a portable (i.e., body-mounted) shoulder exoskeleton increase the reachable workspace of an individual after stroke?
* Can shoulder assistance from a body-mounted exoskeleton improve hand function after stroke?
* Does shoulder assistance from a body-mounted exoskeleton lead to changes in functional use of the impaired limb at home?

Participants will perform tasks with and without assistance from a portable exoskeleton, including:

* maximal area sweeps in each of three directional planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse).
* simultaneous wrist and finger extension while attempting to pick up objects of varying size from the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and Box and Blocks (BBT) test kits.
* standardized clinical assessments in a laboratory setting that have been shown to correlate with functional performance of activities of daily living including WMFT, ARAT, and BBT.
* a Motor Activity Log (MAL) based on activity performed in the past week as a baseline, before wearing the exoskeleton at home for a period of 1-2 hours per day for at least 5 days.
* a System Usability Scale and a second MAL corresponding with the activities performed while wearing the exoskeleton during the at-home phase.

Researchers will compare functional ability measures with and without wearing the portable shoulder exoskeleton to see if the assistance improves functional performance in the arm and/or hand.

Conditions

  • Hemiparesis; Poststroke/CVA

Interventions

DEVICE

Wearable Hand Exoskeleton

The wearable hand exoskeleton prototype is under development at the University of Idaho to provide hand-opening support. Subjects will use the device at home for a period of 3-5 days for at least 2 hours per day.

DEVICE

Wearable Shoulder Exoskeleton

The wearable shoulder exoskeleton prototype is under development at the University of Idaho to provide gravity support to the shoulder. Subjects will use the device at home for a period of 3-5 days for at least 2 hours per day.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of California, Irvine

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Idaho

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Joel C Perry, PhD · University of Idaho

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-06-18
Primary Completion
2027-05-31
Completion
2027-08-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05951491 on ClinicalTrials.gov