Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects

OBJECTIVES: This proposal will 1) design and validate a wearable sensor system which can characterize and monitor functional arm and hand movements in people with stroke and 2) evaluate the effect of the wearable sensor system on improving upper extremity function in individuals with stroke. THE PROBLEM: While it is well established that greater practice of arm and hand movements after stroke leads to better outcomes, motivating and monitoring patients (without additional expensive supervision) is one of the most pressing challenges in rehabilitation. PROPOSED SOLUTION: The Arm Rehabilitation Monitor (ARM) will be the first upper extremity movement sensor that can identify and monitor functional movements, including reaching, hand opening and grasping. We will implement a radically novel technology. Specifically, we will engineer an intelligent skin sensor fabricated with polymers which is sensitive to the bending and stretching forces of the skin and muscle structures during movement. Thus, a polymer arm band will be able to accurately measure and identify arm and hand movements in an unobtrusive manner while individuals go about their normal everyday activities. We will provide the device to therapists and evaluate its effect on improving arm function in stroke survivors. We will involve researchers, patients, clinicians (GF Strong Rehab Centre) and health authorities (Vancouver Coastal Health) to ensure the results can be implemented into clinical practice. SIGNIFICANCE: Advances in engineering will be made in the design of intelligent skin sensors for the application of rehabilitation, computer interfaces and ergonomics. In addition the ARM has the potential to improve the upper extremity function of the 50,000 Canadians who have a stroke each year, and will be applicable to many other conditions (e.g., spinal cord injury, surgery of the shoulder and hand, arm lymphedema after breast cancer).