SoftHand Comparison Study

Change in upper extremity function, as measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Participants perform up to 19 tasks categorized by grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement. The scale is 0 to 3, with a higher number representing higher performance in each category. Categories are scored separately.

Change in upper extremity gross manual dexterity, as measured by the Box and Blocks test. Participants are tested in a timed transfer of blocks from one side of a box to another side over a low partition. A higher number of blocks successfully transferred during the timed episode represents a higher level of upper extremity manual dexterity.

Change in fine and gross motor hand function, as measured by the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Participants are timed in seven activities of daily living closely involving use of the hand, with a lower number of seconds required to complete the task representing a higher level of motor hand function.

Change in participants' perceived occupational performance, as measured by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Participants choose up to 5 occupational performance problems; their perception of their own performance and their satisfaction with their performance regarding each problem is measured on a 1 to 10 scale, with higher scores representing higher performance and satisfaction. The difference in performance and satisfaction is calculated, and then the differences for all problems together are totaled and averaged, with the average divided by the number of problems establishing the final score for each performance and satisfaction. Higher averages represent better perceived performance and satisfaction.

Change in participants' perceived quality of life, as measured by the the World Health Organization Quality of Life Disabilities Module (WHOQOL-DIS). Participants answer qualitative questions regarding patient activities, independence, and overall quality of life on a 1 to 5 scale, with a higher number indicating a higher concurrence or frequency related to the item in question, and totaled for a score which categorizes patient quality of life.

Change in participants' perceived levels of upper extremity physical function and symptoms, as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Score (QuickDASH). Participants rate their difficulty with examples of physical function and their severity of physical symptoms on a 1 to 5 scale, with higher values representing more severe difficulties and symptoms. The scores are combined in a calculation which results in an overall score, with higher scores representing more severe overall difficulties and symptoms.

Change in participants' perceived functional performance, as measured by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale. Participants select 5 or more activities for which they perceive a problem, rating their own performance of that activity on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher values representing greater ability to perform the activity. The scores are totaled and divided by the number of tasks for an average score, with higher values representing better performance.

Change in participants' perception of the utility of their currently-used prosthesis, as measured by the Orthotics Prosthetics Users Survey - Upper Extremity Functional Status (OPUS). Participants rate the prosthetic's ease of use for a variety of daily activities, 23 of which are scored, on a 0 to 4 scale, with higher values representing easier use. Scores are totaled and converted to a 0 to 92 scale, with higher overall scores representing better functional utility with the prosthesis.

Change in participants' levels of pain is measured for subjects who have pain due to brachial plexopathy or neuropathy. A visual analog pain scale (VAS) specific to the limb testing the experimental device will be administered prior to, and after, the clinical measures. The VAS scale is measured by the subject's own perspective by using a 0 to 10 scale, with zero indicating no pain and ten being intolerable pain. These baseline metrics will be compared with performance metrics obtained using the same tests delivered at the end of the daily-use period.