Provision of adequate task-oriented training can be difficult for stroke survivors with limited hand movement. The current passive devices are mainly intended for gross grasp and release training. Additional assistive devices are required to improve functional opposition. This study investigated the functional recovery of chronic stroke patients after using a threedimensional (3D) printed dynamic hand device (3D-DHD) as an adjunct to conducting a task-oriented approach (TOA). Ten participants were randomly assigned to either the 3D-DHD group (n = 5) or the control group (n = 5). The TOA was used for the 3DDHD group by using the 3D-DHD twice a week for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week home program. Only the TOA was used for the control group. The outcome measures including the Box and Blocks Test (BBT) of manual dexterity and prehensile strength were conducted at baseline and at follow-up at 4 and 6 weeks later. The 3D-DHD group exhibited significantly superior improvements to the control group in the BBT and the palmar pinch force test. Both groups had significant within-group improvements in the BBT and in all strength measures compared with baseline measurements. The use of 3D-DHD could position stroke-affected hands in coordinated functional opposition and had the potential to facilitate manual dexterity and advanced prehensile movement.

Hallux valgus (HV) is a foot deformity most commonly found in female and elderly patients. Its symptoms include foot pain, impaired gait patterns, poor balance, and falls in older adults. Recently, various HV orthoses have been introduced in the market; however, they have many shortcomings, such as high costs, unclear therapeutic effects, and effects on push-off of the foot during walking. The present study employs 3D printing technology to develop an HV orthosis and uses motion analysis to investigate the effects of wearing it. This study recruited 12 individuals with HV, who were asked to first perform a static HV measurement without orthosis, followed by a dynamic HV measurement using a Vicon motion analysis system in three trials. The results indicated that wearing the 3D-printed orthosis significantly corrected the HV angle by approximately 11° during static standing and by approximately 9° during dynamic walking. However, no significant difference was observed during use of the orthosis in terms of the ground reaction force. The obtained results demonstrate that the 3D-printed HV orthosis is an effective device for correcting the HV angle during static standing and dynamic walking, especially during the push-off phase of gait.

Inadequate response to balance perturbations lead to posture instability in the elderly. The fall risks are increased by a reduced capacity to control the center of pressure (COP) displacement within the safety limit of the supporting base. This study developed an interactive evaluation and training platform. The system incorporated a computerized program with instantaneous force plate evaluation. Ten young subjects underwent a baseline evaluation and twenty-nine community-dwelling elderly received pre- and post-intervention testing. The ability to reach the stability limit was assessed by measuring the maximum voluntary excursion of the COP in anterior–posterior and medial–lateral directions. Functional mobility tests including Berg Balance Scale, Timed-Up-and-Go and functional reach were used as functional outcomes. The experimental group (n = 15) received a 40 min intervention three times a week for six weeks. The interactive game-based training focused on multi-directional weight shifting by tracing a COPcontrolled target to challenge an individual’s stability limit. The control group (n = 14) maintained daily activities as usual. The young group revealed a superior COP displacement through active ankle control than the elderly, especially in the anterior–posterior direction. The experimental group improved their COP displacement control more in the medial–lateral direction due to the predominant side-to-side gameplay movement. The functional outcome measures were also significantly improved after training. Using the COPcontrolled game-based program, the stability limit was challenged to facilitate dynamic posture control by an incremental increase in self-initiated perturbations. The platform system could assist in transferring the immediate training effects into daily functional mobility in the elderly.