Characteristics and Applications of Technology-Aided Hand Functional Assessment: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Technology-aided hand functional assessment has received considerable attention in recent years. Its applications are required to obtain objective, reliable, and sensitive methods for clinical decision making. This systematic review aims to investigate and discuss characteristics of technology-aided hand functional assessment and their applications, in terms of the adopted sensing technology, evaluation methods and purposes. Based on the shortcomings of current applications, and opportunities offered by emerging systems, this review aims to support the design and the translation to clinical practice of technology-aided hand functional assessment. To this end, a systematic literature search was led, according to recommended PRISMA guidelines, in PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases. The search yielded 208 records, resulting into 23 articles included in the study. Glove-based systems, instrumented objects and body-networked sensor systems appeared from the search, together with vision-based motion capture systems, end-effector, and exoskeleton systems. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) and force sensing resistor (FSR) resulted the sensing technologies most used for kinematic and kinetic analysis. A lack of standardization in system metrics and assessment methods emerged. Future studies that pertinently discuss the pathophysiological content and clinimetrics properties of new systems are required for leading technologies to clinical acceptance.

“Technology Proficiency” in Medical Education: Worthiness for Worldwide Wonderful Competency and Sophistication

“… The potential of the different technology outcome measures in the neuromuscular field is encouraged. Supportive of ‘Technology proficiency’ Mennella et al 2022 17 Hand functional assessment in individuals and patients (Neurological diseases and neuromuscular disorders) Investigate characteristics of technology aided hand functional assessment. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) and force sensing resistor (FSR) Technology-aided clinical assessment procedures required for optimization of healthcare services.…”

Towards an AI-driven soft toy for automatically detecting and classifying infant-toy interactions using optical force sensors

“…There has been a lot of work in medical devices for rehabilitation that uses force sensors to measure and observe pressure patterns. Bobin et al (2018) demonstrates a smart cup for upper limb rehabilitation, while Mennella et al (2021) is a review of technology aided hand assessment in which FSRs show maximal use. Our proposal of a lossy sensor that works similar to a force sensor but is capable of collecting richer data can have a wider use case in applications mentioned in these papers ( Bobin et al, 2018 ; Mennella et al, 2021 ).…”

“… Bobin et al (2018) demonstrates a smart cup for upper limb rehabilitation, while Mennella et al (2021) is a review of technology aided hand assessment in which FSRs show maximal use. Our proposal of a lossy sensor that works similar to a force sensor but is capable of collecting richer data can have a wider use case in applications mentioned in these papers ( Bobin et al, 2018 ; Mennella et al, 2021 ). Barlow et al (2020) uses strain gauges to collect force data and discusses in depth data analysis of these collected force signatures.…”

Concept of the Intelligent Support of Decision Making for Manufacturing a 3D-Printed Hand Exoskeleton within Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 Paradigms

“…This makes interdisciplinary research on hand exoskeletons a key study influencing the future lives of patients with hand function deficits and the further work of physiotherapists. The topic under discussion is not as popular and frequently reported in the literature as it seemed: a review of six major bibliographic databases (PubMed, WoS, Scopus, DBLP, Cochrane, EBSCO) with keywords successively 'exoskeleton' (Figure 1) and related words, 'hand exoskeleton' and related words (Figure 2), '3D print' + 'hand exoskeleton' and related words (Figure 3) and 'decision making' + 'hand exoskeleton' yielded, respectively: Only one publication [9].…”

“…But there is a complete lack of standardization in terms of requirements, system metrics, and assessment methods, preventing simple comparisons between concepts and then solutions based on them. For the above reasons, the path to acceptance of the above-mentioned technology in practical applications is still very far away [9]. The literature review shows that relatively few publications are devoted to decision-making processes in planning, designing, and fitting hand exoskeletons, including 3D-printed ones.…”