The Effects of Robotic Hand Gloves on Hand Range of Motion of Chronic Stroke Patients (2024-2025)

Abstract

Chronic stroke patients experience persistent upper limb impairments that limit hand function resulting in reduced quality of life and overall independence in ADLs. Soft robotic hand gloves may improve hand Range Of Motion (ROM) by promoting motor learning and neuroplasticity. A descriptive-correlational pre-test and post-test study was used in this study. The participants were composed of 20 chronic stroke patients aged 55-65 years from Metro Manila - selected through a purposive sampling method. Patients underwent a total of 20 treatment sessions over the course of 6 weeks using soft robotic hand gloves, which provided repetitive, task-specific hand movements. Wrist and hand ROM was measured during the pre- and post-assessment period using a standard universal goniometer, following a protocol based on Brunnstrom’s Clinical Kinesiology (2012). The data were analyzed using mean difference, paired-sample comparison, and effect size (Cohen’s d). Although the results showed persistent limitations in some joint movements, the results still showed significant improvements in both active and passive ROM in different wrist and hand joint movements - which are critical movements for functional hand use for ADLs - after the intervention. The findings suggest that the use of robotic gloves improved wrist and hand flexibility, and joint movement among participants. The study suggests that robotic hand gloves can be a safe and effective technology-driven alternative or adjunct to conventional therapy, supporting motor learning and neuroplasticity, and functional recovery. Robotic-assisted rehabilitation has the potential to improve independence and quality of life for chronic stroke patients.

Keywords: Robotic Hand Gloves; Chronic Stroke Patients; Stroke Rehabilitation; Range of Motion; Motor Relearning; Neuroplasticity; Upper Limb Function

Citation

Angeles D, Maria Alexandria E, Paparo Edrea Grace O, Pinauin Lexine Cyra V. The Effects of Robotic Hand Gloves on Hand Range of Motion of Chronic Stroke Patients (2024-2025). WebLog J Phys Ther Rehabil. wjptr.2026.f0603. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20838783