The electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot has been found to improve voluntary motor control, reduce muscle spasticity, and enhance motor function in the upper limbs. However, its effectiveness compared to conventional therapies remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to assess the rehabilitation benefits of the EMG-driven robot hand in comparison to conventional therapies for stroke survivors.

Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to December 2024. Our primary outcomes of interest were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). We used mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to estimate the continuous outcomes.

Eight RCTs, including 191 patients, met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that EMG-driven robot led to significantly greater improvements in FMA scale and MAS compared to conventional therapy (MD 4.91, 95% CI [1.77, 8.05], P 0.002) and (MD -0.38, 95% CI [-0.61, -0.14], P 0.002), respectively. No significant differences in ARAT were found between the both groups (MD 2.69, 95% CI [-0.93, 6.3], P 0.15).