Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2021
HoMEcare aRm rehabiLItatioN (MERLIN): telerehabilitation using an unactuated device based on serious games improves the upper limb function in chronic stroke.
Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 58 citations in OpenAlex.
- Poststroke eHealth Technologies-Based Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Recovery: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Motivation as a Measurable Outcome in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of the Literature.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Combining robot-assisted therapy with virtual reality or using it alone? A systematic review on health-related quality of life in neurological patients.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2023Pooled it
- Unsupervised robot-assisted rehabilitation after stroke: feasibility, effect on therapy dose, and user experience.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Trial
- A Combination of Long-Duration Electrical Stimulation with External Shoulder Support during Routine Daily Activities in Patients with Post-Hemiplegic Shoulder Subluxation: A Randomized Controlled Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Formative Evaluation of Safety and Usability of a Mixed-Reality Robot-Assisted Telerehabilitation System for Post-Stroke Upper-Limb Therapy.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Resting-state and task-state fNIRS fusion assessment method for upper limb motor function in stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Tools and methods for assessing the usability and related aspects of usability of extended reality and telerehabilitation technologies in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2025Review
- Active Rehabilitation Technologies for Post-Stroke Patients.Biosensors · 2025Review
- Smart Device-Based Therapy on Hand Motor Function Improvement in Stroke Survivors During Rehabilitation: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies · 2025Review
- Novel Robotic Balloon-Based Device for Wrist-Extension Therapy of Hemiparesis Stroke Patients.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Exploring New Tools in Upper Limb Rehabilitation After Stroke Using an Exoskeletal Aid: A Pilot Randomized Control Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Effects of game design characteristics of a virtual reality serious game for upper-limb prosthesis control training on motor learning.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2025Article
- Unlocking the potential of serious games for rehabilitation in low and middle-income countries: addressing potential and current limitations.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- The use of home-based digital technology to support post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitation · 2024Article
- Outcome Measures Utilized to Assess the Efficacy of Telerehabilitation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.Brain sciences · 2023Article
- Home-Based Rehabilitation of the Shoulder Using Auxiliary Systems and Artificial Intelligence: An Overview.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Home-based upper limb stroke rehabilitation mechatronics: challenges and opportunities.Biomedical engineering online · 2023Review
- Digital Health Applications to Establish a Remote Diagnosis of Orthopedic Knee Disorders: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- A New Wrist-Forearm Rehabilitation Protocol Integrating Human Biomechanics and SVM-Based Machine Learning for Muscle Fatigue Estimation.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHoMEcare aRm rehabiLItatioN (MERLIN) is an unactuated version of the robotic device ArmAssist combined with a telecare platform. Stroke patients are able to train the upper limb function using serious games at home. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of MERLIN training on the upper limb function of patients with unilateral upper limb paresis in the chronic phase of stroke (> 6 months post stroke).
methodsPatients trained task specific serious games for three hours per week during six weeks using an unactuated version of a robotic device. Progress was monitored and game settings were tailored through telerehabilitation. Measurements were performed six weeks pre-intervention (T0), at the start (T1), end (T2) and six weeks post-intervention (T3). Primary outcome was the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Secondary outcomes were other arm function tests, quality of life, user satisfaction and motivation.
resultsTwelve patients were included, ten completed the training. From start of the intervention to six weeks follow up, WMFT improved significantly with 3.8 points (p = .006), which is also clinically relevant. No significant changes in quality of life were observed. Patients were overall satisfied with the usability of the device. Comfort and the robustness of the system need further improvements.
conclusionPatients in the chronic phase of stroke significantly improved their upper limb function with the MERLIN training at home. Trial registration This study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7535). Registered 18-02-2019, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7535 .
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.