A usability study in patients with stroke using MERLIN, a robotic system based on serious games for upper limb rehabilitation in the home setting

Abstract Background Neuroscience and neurotechnology are transforming stroke rehabilitation. Robotic devices, in addition to telerehabilitation, increasingly being used train the upper limbs after stroke, their use at home allows us extend institutional rehabilitation by increasing prolonging therapy. The aim of this study is assess usability MERLIN robotic system based on serious games for limb people with environment. Methods 9 participants a three different stages recovery (subacute, short-term chronic long-term chronic) impaired arm/hand function, were recruited 3 weeks: 1 week training Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute Cordoba (IMIBIC), 2 weeks patients’ homes. To evaluate usability, System Usability Scale (SUS), Adapted Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), Quebec User Evaluation Satisfaction assistive Technology (QUEST), ArmAssist Assessment Questionnaire post-intervention. Clinical outcomes motor function assessed pre- Results patients participated completed study. assessment reported high level satisfaction: mean SUS score 71.94 % (SD = 16.38), QUEST scale 3.81 0.38), IMI 6.12 1.36). results showed an average 6 out 7, which indicates that extremely intuitive, easy learn use. Regarding clinical assessment, Fugl-Meyer scores moderate improvements from post-intervention total (p 0.002). There no significant changes Modified Ashworth 0.169). Conclusions This home-based safe, useful, feasible motivating. Telerehabilitation constitutes major step forward intensive home. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04405609. Registered 06 January 2020—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04405609