Written by Henry Hoffman, MS, OTR/L
As one of the major causes of serious disability in adults, a stroke can cause widespread impairment for individuals who experience this neurological event. Fortunately, because of the inherent neuroplasticity of the brain, restorative therapies that allow movement and encourage repetition help to reduce the deficits incurred, reconnecting neurons and improving function for the majority of stroke survivors. There are a variety of stroke recovery products for sale that can assist you in recovery.
For those struggling with neurological or orthopedic injuries that affect their hands, the state-of-the-art SaeboGlove is an effective therapy device that helps its wearers to regain motor recovery and functional independence.
Ideal for anyone looking to optimize hand functionality and strength, the low-profile and lightweight SaeboGlove is designed to be completely customizable, ensuring the best therapy outcomes with its adjustable individual tensioners. Read on to learn more about how this exceptional stroke recovery product can help you or a loved one to attain improved functionality following a stroke, orthopedic injury, or another neurological event.
Motor impairment of the hand is quite common following a stroke, complicating the completion of everyday tasks and the ability to perform functional activities independently. The disruption of neural connections between the brain and hand muscles may increase stiffness or tone, resulting in spasticity. Hand strength, grip, and overall function may also become impaired, along with a loss of sensation. People affected by stroke may not be able to straighten their fingers, nor grasp, lift, or release items. If effective treatment options are not employed, many stroke survivors develop wrist and hand contractures, resulting in reduced passive joint range of motion.
The SaeboGlove helps people who have experienced a stroke and other neurological events to capitalize on the brain’s natural plasticity potential to optimize healing and regain the maximal function of their hands. Unlike heavy, complex, and powered robotic therapy gloves that cannot be used for activities of daily living (ADL), the lightweight and comfortable SaeboGlove delivers passive, adjustable support, utilizing elastic tensioners to assist users with opening and closing the hand, countering spasticity. Aiding with day-to-day functional tasks, this innovative glove for stroke patients is also used during grasp-and-release exercises, helping users to retrain the brain and strengthen the muscles needed to perform daily tasks. In addition, the SaeboGlove helps to prevent the shortening of the muscles and tightening of the hand. Encouraging the glove’s early and frequent use at home following a stroke or other neurological condition can avert further loss of movement and result in faster and more effective recovery.
Considered to have the most beneficial design for people recovering from a stroke, SaeboGlove’s adjustable individual tensioners allow neurological and orthopedic patients to exercise their muscles at different tensions for the best recovery outcomes. Easy to put on and take off, the tensioner mechanism offers multiple attachment sites for the thumb and each finger, helping users with extension and grasping. Different from other hand therapy gloves that only offer a specific, set tension, the SaeboGlove ensures easy customization with numerous-sized tensioners, allowing optimal adjustability and fit dependent upon each user’s unique finger length and level of impairment.
Contrasting with other hand therapy gloves that only offer one adjustable size, the SaeboGlove offers comprehensive sizing options to ensure the perfect, comfortable fit for every user. Saebo provides a separate wrist splint sizing chart along with a separate glove liner sizing chart to give exact guidance to better help you find exactly what you need. Available in either right or left-hand designations, choosing your perfect size involves measurements for the user’s wrist circumference, dorsal hand width, hand circumference, and length of the third finger. Rest assured- there are size charts and sizing videos on our product page!
While some rehabilitation gloves can be hard to keep in place, the specially-designed finger panels of the SaeboGlove are constructed with anti-slip Lycra to optimize traction. This soft and elastic material provides a breathable, intimate fit that keeps the fingers in place along with its silicon liner to further minimize migration.
Helping to prevent wrist-drop and contractures of the hand that often follow a stroke, the exclusive spiral forearm design supports the wrist in a functional position. Enabling a full range of motion for the fingers and thumb, this spiral configuration maintains the hand and wrist in the correct postures. This unique design is not only more comfortable, but it also assists in blocking users from holding their hands in unhealthy positions, such as double-under or bent postures.
Unlike heavy or bulky stroke rehab gloves that are not designed to be worn to accomplish activities of daily living, the SaeboGlove offers a low-profile format that’s much more lightweight and practical for comfortable everyday wear. Its soft and breathable silicone liner prevents heat and moisture buildup, while its open-palm design further maximizes comfortable wearability along with making the glove easier to apply and remove.
“Recommended by our occupational therapist, the SaeboGlove has been helping my husband after he had a stroke. While his recovery progress was practically non-existent before using it, this amazing stroke glove has actually helped him get his hands and fingers moving again. He can now grasp and release objects, along with opening and closing his fist. We are both very pleased with these positive results in just a short time of using the SaeboGlove and look forward to continuing improvement.”
Deb G.
“As an occupational therapist, I have used the SaeboGlove with several patients recovering from stroke and TBI and I am quite impressed by its ability to help people regain function and motor control. As I’m always looking for the best methods for patients to use at home to improve the compliance that results in optimal neuroplasticity gains, I have found the SaeboGlove to be the perfect device to keep my patients doing their exercises between OT visits.”
Inertia L.
“I am so excited to be able to use my left hand and arm again! I use the SaeboGlove daily and I’m seeing continued improvement, without going backward. It would be wonderful if all stroke patients were introduced to this amazing device immediately following the stroke. I didn’t start using it until 7 months after my stroke, but better late than never - it still works wonderfully for me and I highly recommend it!”
Susan T.
People experiencing mild hypertonicity who can still extend their fingers to some degree are good candidates for effective SaeboGlove use. They may exhibit some hand function impairment, including weak finger flexors or extensors and low fine motor control, with the index finger and thumb tone more prevalent. They may find numerous repetitions more difficult because of lower endurance and weakened finger extension strength.
Exhibiting minimal or no active finger or wrist extension, people with moderate to severe neurological impairment are also good candidates for beneficial SaeboGlove therapy. They may have a flaccid or very low tone and are not impeded by hypertonicity. These patients might also require electrical stimulation to add to the SaeboGlove support.
Typically presented with a diagnosis of a brachial plexus injury, radial nerve palsy, or radial/brachial fractures, many people with orthopedic diagnoses can benefit from using the SaeboGlove. These users may experience a lack of finger extension strength or exhibit wrist-drop resulting from their injuries or conditions.
While it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if this glove for stroke patients is right for you, the SaeboGlove may be contraindicated for use with some people who exhibit one or more of the following conditions:
To properly maintain the SaeboGlove and keep it in the best condition, the glove liner should be cleaned periodically. Simply remove the liner and handwash it in lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Rinse it thoroughly in cool water, wring it out, and allow it to air dry. A disinfectant solution can also be lightly sprayed onto the liner for a quick spot cleaning.
Although a stroke can lead to extensive disability, clinical outcomes can be greatly improved by enhancing the brain’s natural plasticity. Daily, repetitive exercises have been shown to boost this neuroplasticity. For those experiencing impairments to their hand strength and functionality, one of the best ways to fully recover is by using the soft and comfortable SaeboGlove.
As the latest innovation for hand rehabilitation, this lightweight and low-profile glove for stroke patients assist both neurological and orthopedic patients with finger and thumb extension, providing support for grasping and releasing. Helping people to perform activities of daily living, the SaeboGlove can be used for everything from brushing your teeth and twisting a doorknob to grabbing a glass of water and using the TV remote. Thanks for reading about the popular SaeboGlove, and we invite you to check out all of the beneficial Saebo products for sale.
Interested in learning more about strokes? Check out our Stroke Recovery articles, where we review more stoke products, give you exercise tips, and more! Lastly, before you go, be sure to check out Caregiver University blog, which is also a fantastic educational resource to learn more about aging in place, special needs, caregiving, wheelchairs, and so much more.
Henry is known as a purveyor of neuroplasticity-based treatment and co-founder of Saebo, a leading provider of novel and evidence-based stroke recovery solutions. For over 20 years, he has provided hundreds of national and international brain injury/stroke courses certifying thousands of occupational and physical therapists worldwide.
Henry’s first stroke product, the SaeboFlex, was placed on permanent public display at the Wellcome Medicine Galleries exhibit at the Science Museum in London. The SaeboFlex was alongside other medical breakthrough technologies spanning the last 500 years, including the first MRI machine and the penicillin mold.
Saebo’s tagline is “No Plateau in Sight” with the understanding that there is no expiration date on neuroplasticity. Henry believes that patients can continue to make gains many years post-stroke and live a happy, healthy, and more independent life.
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