Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42108489›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2026

Effects of semi-independent bedside rehabilitation of the upper limb assisted with a mobile wrist-hand exoneuromusculoskeleton (ENMS) for inpatients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Yueyan Wang, Yanhuan Huang, Yurong Mao, Haojun Chen, Yijie Huang, Dongfeng Huang, Xiaoling Hu

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yueyan Wang *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0403-4609
Yanhuan Huang *Research Institute of Smart Ageing (RISA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5270-8594
Yurong MaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2811-972X
Haojun ChenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-8090-3174
Yijie HuangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China.
Dongfeng HuangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China. huangdf@mail.sysu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2534-7161
Xiaoling HuResearch Institute of Smart Ageing (RISA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. xiaoling.hu@polyu.edu.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3188-3005

Funding

Innovation and technology fund of Hong Kong ITT/012/23GP, ITS/011/23Shenzhen Research and Development Program ZSQY202373519University Grants Committee STG1/M-401/24-N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRobotic-assisted rehabilitation has been used to release the labor burden in manual practice for early stroke rehabilitation. However, its broader application is constrained by high costs, limited accessibility, and high dependence on professional operation. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of semi-independent, bedside upper limb rehabilitation assisted by a wrist-hand exoneuromusculoskeleton (WH-ENMS) for individuals with subacute stroke via a randomized controlled trial compared with the outcomes achieved by conventional therapy and training programs assisted by an interlimb-coordinated (IC) robot.

methodsFifty-four participants with subacute stroke were randomized into three groups: ENMS, IC, or conventional therapy. All groups underwent 21 rehabilitation sessions (60 min/day for 21 consecutive days), each including 30 min of standardized Bobath therapy. During the additional 30 min of training, the ENMS group engaged in semi-independent bedside training with minimal supervision, the IC group received supervised IC cycling, and the conventional group received proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. The rehabilitative effects were evaluated via clinical scores. The primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), and the secondary outcomes included the action research arm test (ARAT), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and modified Barthel index (MBI). The manpower consumption was quantified on the basis of the professional hours required during training.

resultsThe ENMS group required significantly less total occupational therapist (OT) involvement (11.6 h) compared with the IC (22.9 h) and conventional (21.0 h) groups, representing a 49.4% reduction in professional manpower demand. All groups showed significant improvements in FMA-UE, ARAT, and MBI scores. Compared with the other groups, the ENMS group achieved superior gains in voluntary motor function (FMA-UE and ARAT, P < 0.05). The ENMS group also obtained significant reductions in muscle spasticity across multiple joints (MAS, P < 0.05). The IC group demonstrated the largest MBI improvements, while the conventional group showed greater gains in hand function than the IC group (P < 0.05).

conclusionsSemi-independent bedside rehabilitation with WH-ENMS is feasible, safe, and effective for inpatients with subacute stroke. It reduced the demand for professional manpower while promoting upper limb recovery, particularly wrist-hand function, during the critical subacute neuroplasticity window. This approach could optimize rehabilitation resource allocation and facilitate more personalized interventions. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300074469. Registered on 2023/08/08.

Indexed as

Exoskeleton DeviceStroke RehabilitationUpper ExtremityAgedFemaleHandHumansInpatientsMaleMiddle AgedRoboticsStrokeTreatment OutcomeWristExoneuromusculoskeleton (ENMS)Interlimb coordination trainingSemi-independent trainingSubacute strokeWrist–hand rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID42108489
PMCPMC13335337

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Registered trials

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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.