Stroke often leaves patients with significant sequelae. Among these, impaired upper limb function is one of the most common, including unilateral weakness (hemiplegia) and abnormal muscle tone. These impairments affect patients' daily lives, significantly reducing their quality of life.

       With the rapid advancements in technology, the field of rehabilitation is also witnessing new developments. However, the physiological structure of human fingers is intricate and complex, and past rehabilitation equipment has often lacked the precision to target finger movements for training. This has presented a significant challenge for many stroke patients in regaining the basic yet crucial ability to grasp.

        To overcome this predicament, our hospital has introduced an innovative rehabilitation device developed through a Ministry of Science and Technology project—the "Mirror Hand (Robot)." The Mirror Hand combines multiple therapeutic modes, using a sophisticated robotic hand to assist and guide the patient's affected hand in performing exercises. It integrates visual, proprioceptive, and motor imagery feedback mechanisms to accelerate brain reorganization and functional recovery. Currently, literature has confirmed the significant benefits of Mirror Hand therapy in improving upper limb function and promoting brain recovery in stroke patients.

How Does the Mirror Hand Robot Work?

The working of the Mirror Hand robot is quite intuitive and precise:

• Precise Capture by the Sensing Glove: First, the patient wears a highly sensitive sensing glove on their unaffected hand. This glove accurately detects every subtle movement of the unaffected hand, including finger flexion, extension, and even thumb opposition.
• Seamless Signal Transmission: The movement signals captured by the sensing glove are transmitted in real-time and accurately to the control system of the "exoskeleton robot hand" worn on the affected hand via a sophisticated detection system.
• Precise Assistance from the Robot Hand: Upon receiving the signals, the precise motors within the exoskeleton robot hand accurately assist and guide the affected hand to perform the same movements as the unaffected hand.
• Integration of Daily Life Activities: A significant advantage of the Mirror Hand robot training is its ability to easily incorporate simple daily life movements. For example, under the guidance of a therapist, patients can practice using the robotic hand to assist in picking up objects of different sizes and shapes, reaching for objects, and placing them.

Diverse Training Modes: Meeting the Needs of Different Rehabilitation Stages

The Mirror Hand robot offers a variety of carefully designed training modes:

• Passive Joint Movement Mode: In this mode, the robotic hand provides continuous passive joint movement training. The robot can automatically guide the affected hand's individual fingers or all five fingers simultaneously in repetitive opening and closing movements. This mode is particularly suitable for the early stages when the patient has limited voluntary movement, helping to maintain joint mobility, promote blood circulation, and reduce muscle tightness.
• Mirror Mode - Individual Finger Flexion/Extension & Thumb Opposition: This is the core mode of mirror therapy. By making movements with the unaffected hand wearing the sensing glove, the affected hand performs the same movements synchronously. This mode can target the flexion and extension of individual fingers, as well as practice thumb opposition with other fingers, improving fine motor control.
• Mirror Mode - Bilateral Task-Oriented Training: In this advanced mode, therapists can design various training tasks with clear goals based on the patient's hand function level. For example, using the robotic hand to assist patients in picking up building blocks, stacking objects, and practicing other daily life activities. More importantly, this mode can be combined with commonly used training tools in the therapy room, such as objects of different materials and sizes, allowing the robot hand to be quickly integrated into existing treatment strategies.

Therapeutic Benefits of the Mirror Hand Robot

        The Mirror Hand robot is suitable for patients with hand dysfunction caused by various central or peripheral nervous system injuries. Through consistent and appropriate Mirror Hand robot training, the following benefits can be expected:

• Improved Active Distal Movement of the Affected Side: More effective recovery of active finger movement ability.
• Promoted Normalization of Tone on the Affected Side: Reduction or improvement of abnormal muscle tone in the affected limb.
• Improved Joint Mobility on the Affected Side: Maintenance and increase in the range of motion of the affected hand joints.

Basic Requirements for Using the Mirror Hand Robot

           To ensure the safety and effectiveness of the training, the following basic criteria need to be met before using the Mirror Hand robot:

• Fingers Can Be Opened Without Excessive Effort: Passive range of motion of the affected fingers is acceptable, and movement can be performed with robotic assistance.
• No Skin wound: No wound on the skin when wearing the robotic hand to avoid infection or other discomfort.
• Sensation Present in the hand: Some sensory function is the basis for motor learning and feedback.
• Ability to Understand Instructions: Able to comprehend the therapist's guidance and cooperate in completing the training.
• Ability to Tolerate Sitting for More Than 50 Minutes: A typical treatment session lasts approximately 50 minutes, and patients need to have sufficient endurance.

Opening a New Chapter in Hand Rehabilitation

         Occupational therapists will conduct a detailed evaluation based on the patient's motor recovery status and set individualized training programs according to their specific recovery progress. During the training process, occupational therapists will provide timely and appropriate guidance and feedback to achieve the best rehabilitation outcomes.

       If you or your family and friends have hand function rehabilitation needs, you are welcome to register for our hospital's Rehabilitation Department outpatient clinic. After a professional evaluation by a doctor and a treatment referral, you can schedule an appointment with the Occupational Therapy Department of the Rehabilitation Department. Let us work together to utilize this advanced technology to regain hand function, improve quality of life, and once again take control of an independent life.