2026-04-26T21:59:55Zhttps://uvadoc.uva.es/oai/request

oai:uvadoc.uva.es:10324/732682025-01-13T08:17:10Zcom_10324_966com_10324_952com_10324_894col_10324_967

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Cisnal De La Rica, Ana author Alonso Linaje, Gonzalo author Fraile Marinero, Juan Carlos author Pérez Turiel, Javier author Álvarez, Pablo author Martinez, Socorro author 2024 Prolonged hospitalization in severe COVID-19 cases can lead to substantial muscle loss and functional deterioration. While rehabilitation is essential, conventional approaches face capacity challenges. Therefore, evaluating the effectiveness of robotic-assisted rehabilitation for patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome to enhance both motor function and overall recovery holds paramount significance. Our objective is to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation in post-COVID-19 patients with upper extremity impairment through the utilization of a hand exoskeleton-based robotic system. Methods: A total of 13 participants experiencing acute or limited functional or strength impairment in an upper extremity due to COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. A structured intervention consisted of 45 min therapy sessions, conducted four times per week over a six-week period, utilizing a hand exoskeleton. The research employed standardized health assessments, motion analysis, and semi-structured interviews for pre-intervention and follow-up evaluations. Paired sample t-tests were employed to statistically analyze the outcomes. Results: The outcomes showed a reduction in overall dependence levels across participants, positive changes in various quality of life-related measurements, and an average increase of 60.4 ± 25.7% and 28.7 ± 11.2% for passive and active flexion, respectively. Conclusions: Our data suggest that hand exoskeleton-based robotic systems hold promise to optimize the rehabilitation outcomes following severe COVID-19. Trial registration: ID NCT06137716 at ClinicalTrials.gov. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024, vol. 13, n. 6, p. 1543 https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/73268 10.3390/jcm13061543 1543 6 Journal of Clinical Medicine 13 2077-0383 Tackling Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Challenges: A Pilot Clinical Trial Investigating the Role of Robotic-Assisted Hand Rehabilitation