Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Neurological conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury can seriously impair one's ability to use their arm and hands for essential activities of daily living. We have previously developed the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) which has been shown in a multi-site randomized controlled trial to improve upper extremity function after stroke through hundreds of repetitions of the arm, hand and fingers, as well as strengthening exercises. It is utilized in over 3000 sites and is part of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations. Under ideal supervisory conditions, the program is effective, but adherence is problematic as it is difficult to keep track of the many repetitions, can be challenging to know how to continually make the tasks harder, and lacks feedback to motivate individuals to do the exercise. I-GRASP will solve these issues by developing an instrumented platform derived from the evidence-based GRASP program where patients will be able to 1) measure their own upper extremity function, 2) improve their function through progressive exercises and 3) and receive feedback to help motivate their progress. Our team is a collaboration between engineer and health care researchers and our partners include a wearable sensor company, a public sector rehabilitation hospital, and a private rehabilitation clinic to ensure the relevance of our product. The proposed technology to measure, motivate and enhance hand function will improve the lives of individuals with stroke and will be applicable to other populations with hand problems. The project will also advance technologies related to smart materials and wearable sensors. Lastly, the research has great potential for commercialization by the industry partner Texavie and to potentially open new markets for rehabilitation technology that can be accessed by health providers and stroke survivors.