Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, often leaving survivors with impaired hand motor function. Traditional rehabilitation can be repetitive, expensive, and disengaging, leading to poor adherence. To address this, we developed a wearable rehabilitation system that integrates flex sensors with a gamified piano-based therapy application. The device uses Bluetooth Low Energy and UART communication to provide real-time feedback as patients perform therapy through a music game, promoting neuroplasticity and engagement. Our system was tested through two experiments: one assessed sensor accuracy, achieving a 97% detection rate, while the other measured user engagement, showing increased session time and motivation over a 10-day trial. Compared to robotic rehabilitation and conventional music therapy, our solution is low-cost, portable, and self-guided, making it suitable for home use. By combining wearable technology with interactive therapy, this project provides an accessible method for stroke patients to improve fine motor recovery outside clinical settings.
Kim et al. (Sat,) studied this question.