• Ahmed F Samhan, Nermeen M Abdelhalim, and Ragab K Elnaggar.
• Department of Physical Therapy, New Kasr El-Aini Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ahmedsamhan44@yahoo.com.
• Burns. 2020 Sep 1; 46 (6): 1347-1355.

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of the robotic-assisted exercise with virtual gaming on total active range of motion (ROM) of the digits, hand grip strength (HGS), and hand function in children with hand burns.MethodsThirty-three children with burn caused by thermal injury (flame or scald) with the involvement of the wrist and hand, total body surface area (TBSA) <30%, and age between 6-12 years, were included in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to one of the two groups; control group (n = 16; received 60-min of the traditional hand rehabilitation program, three times per week for two successive months) and experimental group (n = 17; engaged in an additional 20 min of interactive robot-enhanced hand rehabilitation besides the traditional rehabilitation). Outcomes measured were the total active ROM of the digits, HGS, and hand function at three occasions during the study: at the baseline, post-treatment, and 3 months follow-up.ResultsIn the experimental group, results regarding total active (ROM) of the digits, HGS, and hand function were statistically significant in comparison to the control group either after treatment (P < .05, P = .04, and P = .005) respectively or at the follow-up (P < .05, P = .023, and P = .012) respectively favoring the experimental group.ConclusionThe robot-enhanced exercise with virtual gaming can increase total active ROM of the fingers' digits, improve HGS, and hand function in children with hand burns.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

20 keywords...

hide…