The Effectiveness of Upper Extremity Orthotic Interventions on Performance Skills and Performance of Occupations for Adults after Stroke: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of upper extremity orthoses on improving performance skills and performance of occupations after stroke. Databases searched included CINAHL, PubMed, and OT Seeker. Articles were included if published between 2012 to 2022, English, peer-reviewed, level of evidence IB, IIB, or IIIB, and included upper extremity orthoses, adults after a stroke, and performance skill and performance of occupation outcome measures; six studies meet inclusion criteria. Moderate strength of evidence supports the usage of dynamic upper extremity orthoses to improve performance skills, although they do not improve performance of occupations for adults after stroke. Evidence suggests practitioners should utilize dynamic orthoses concurrently with tasks that promote performance skills such as gripping, pinching, grasping, and reaching during interventions to promote upper extremity use after stroke. Additional research is needed to further justify the use of upper extremity orthoses for performance of occupations after stroke.

Keywords:

• Performance of occupations
• performance skills
• stroke
• upper extremity orthosis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Julie Shin and the late Dr. Mark Kaipust who contributed to the ideas and development of this research, Dr. Bekmuratova who assisted with research questions regarding levels of evidence, and Judith Bergjord, who assisted with the search terms and database selection.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest with this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.