Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (8): 2124-2131.doi: 10.12307/2026.588

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Effects of wrist-hand orthosis on hand dysfunction in stroke patients: a meta-analysis

Gao Feng1, Zhang Jun1, Yu Wenjun2, Chanyu Yujing2, Zhao Le1, Hu Yuting1, Wang Junhua1, Liu Yongfu1   

  1. 1Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China; 2Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2025-01-03 Accepted:2025-03-14 Online:2026-03-18 Published:2025-07-29
  • Contact: Liu Yongfu, MS, Therapist-in-charge, Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Gao Feng, MS, Associate professor, Shiyan Taihe Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Advantages Discipline Group (Medicine) Project in Higher Education of Hubei Province during the “14th Five-Year Plan” Period, No. 2022XKQT1 (to WJH)

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Wrist-hand orthotics are a common rehabilitation aid for upper limb dysfunction, and there is controversy over their efficacy in treating hand dysfunction patients after stroke. This article aims to systematically review the rehabilitation effects of wrist-hand orthosis on hand function impairment in stroke patients. 
METHODS: We systematically searched databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials on the application of wrist-hand orthosis in hand rehabilitation of stroke patients from database establishment to July 2024. The trial group received wrist-hand orthosis and conventional rehabilitation treatment, and the control group received conventional rehabilitation treatment. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4. 
RESULTS: Eight studies were finally included, involving 305 patients. The meta-analysis resuls showed that the modified Ashworth score of the trial group was lower than that of the control group [MD=-0.24, 95%CI(-0.36, -0.12), P < 0.000 1], and the Fugl-Meyer upper limb motor function score and modified Barthel score [SMD=0.97, 95%CI(0.51, 1.43), P < 0.000 1; SMD=1.00, 95%CI(0.05, 1.94), P=0.04] were higher than those of the control group. There was no significant difference in grip strength between the two groups [MD=-0.89, 95%CI(-5.37, 3.58), P=0.70]. 
CONCLUSION: Wrist-hand orthosis can reduce wrist-hand joint muscle tone and improve hand motor function and daily living activities in stroke patients, but has no significant improvement on grip strength. It should be noted that the total sample size of the study was only 305 cases, and some indicators (such as grip strength) were only included in two papers, which was not statistically effective. More large-sample, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed in the future. 


Key words: stroke, hand function, hand dysfunction, wrist-hand orthosis, meta-analysis

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