Neuralease Workstation: Assessing Its Role in Spasticity and Functional Recovery in Stroke

Background: Post-stroke wrist and hand dysfunction significantly impacts fine motor control, reducing independence in daily activities. Traditional rehabilitation tools, like pegboards have shown promise but lack personalization and integrated support, which are essential for optimal recovery and sustained motivation. The Neuralease workstation, designed with adjustable pegs of varying sizes, shapes, and weights, along with integrated wrist and hand support, aims to promote isolated and task-specific movements for enhanced motor skill acquisition in stroke patients. Objective: The main objective is to design and test how the Neuralease workstation affects spasticity, motor function, and quality of life in people who have had a subacute stroke and have problems with their wrists and hands when used with traditional therapy. Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, we designed and developed the Neuralease workstation and filed a patent. Twenty-four subacute stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups (12 each): the intervention group received therapy using Neuralease alongside conventional therapy, and the control group received only conventional therapy. Outcome measures, including the Tardieu Scale, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (wrist and hand), and the Stroke Impact Scale Gujarati version, were assessed pre- and post-intervention over four weeks. Results: Patients in the Neuralease and conventional group showed reductions in spasticity identified, but it was not statistically significant in comparison amongst Groups A and B. But improvements in motor function and quality of life showed more statistically significant differences in Neuralease group than the control group. High user satisfaction was noted for the workstation's adjustability and ease of use, confirming its value as a personalized rehabilitation tool. Conclusion: Combining the Neuralease workstation with regular therapy improved the recovery outcomes for people who had a stroke and had problems with their hands and wrists. Its personalized approach and ease of use make it a promising adjunct for stroke rehabilitation.