Technology-Assisted Upper Limb Therapy (TAULT): Evaluation of Clinical Practice at a Specialised Centre for Spinal Cord Injury in Switzerland

Abstract

(1) Improving upper limb function is essential for people with tetraplegia. Although promising, technology-assisted upper limb training is understudied in this population. This article describes its implementation in a Swiss spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre and reports on the observed changes. (2) A retrospective evaluation of clinical data from January 2018 to June 2020 examined patient characteristics, training parameters, goal-setting practices, goal achievement, and changes in muscle strength over the course of technology-assisted upper limb training. (3) Data analysis included 61 individuals, 68.9% of whom had a spinal cord injury. The ArmeoSpring was the most frequently used device. The typical treatment regimen was three 25 min sessions per week, with evaluations approximately every six weeks. The 1:1 sessions, delivered by specialised staff, focused primarily on improving shoulder movement and the ability to eat and drink. Functional goals were set using a grid. Performance on selected goals in the areas of ‘body functions’ and ‘activities & participation’ as well as muscle strength, increased over the course of training. (4) The ArmeoSpring has broad applicability. Despite the observed improvements, the isolated effect of technology-assisted upper limb training cannot be concluded due to the lack of a control group and various concurrent interventions.