2026 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Asmaa Alnajjar¹, Rashad G. Mohamed², Hussien O. Hussein², Kawthar Abdulaziz Jafail³, Amir Hegazi⁴, Magdy shehab⁴, Muataz Kashbour⁵
¹Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine., ²Mansoura Manchester Program for Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt, ³Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia, ⁴Faculty of medicine, Mansoura university, Mansoura, Egypt, ⁵Diagnostic Radiology Department, National Cancer Institute, Misrata, Libya

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electromyography (EMG)-driven robotic hand interventions for upper-limb rehabilitation after stroke

Background:

The electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot has been found to improve voluntary motor control, reduce muscle spasticity, and enhance motor function in the upper limbs. However, its effectiveness compared to conventional therapies remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to assess the rehabilitation benefits of the EMG-driven robot hand in comparison to conventional therapies for stroke survivors.

Design/Methods:

Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to December 2024. Our primary outcomes of interest were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). We used mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to estimate the continuous outcomes.

Results:

Eight RCTs, including 191 patients, met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that EMG-driven robot led to significantly greater improvements in FMA scale and MAS compared to conventional therapy (MD 4.91, 95% CI [1.77, 8.05], P 0.002) and (MD -0.38, 95% CI [-0.61, -0.14], P 0.002), respectively. No significant differences in ARAT were found between the both groups (MD 2.69, 95% CI [-0.93, 6.3], P 0.15).

Conclusions:

The EMG-driven robot hand demonstrates superior efficacy in improving motor control and reducing spasticity compared to conventional therapy for post-stroke rehabilitation. Future research should explore its long-term effects, assess its cost-effectiveness, and investigate its applicability in diverse stroke populations.