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Purpose: To conduct a systematic review on the impacts of using mechanical assistive devices on function, performance in activities and participation of persons with upper extremity impairments, and to synthesize the strengths and limitations of these devices. Method: Three independent reviewers conducted systematic searches of articles published between 2003 and 2023 in Compendex, Inspec, Embase, PubMed/Medline, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, as well as manual searches on the RESNA website for conference papers over the same period. The methodological quality of articles was appraised using the QualSyst tool. Results: From the 34 retained studies, 28 mechanical devices were identified and classified into two categories: (1) mobile arm supports (MASs) designed to perform multiple activities, and (2) devices used to assist with a specific activity of daily living (ADL). Overall, MASs helped users to perform manual activities in elevation and/or against gravity. Specific ADL devices allowed users to perform unique activities requiring fine motor skills such as opening a medicine container. Some of these devices have advantages like portability, adaptability, low cost, and ease of use. Limitations most often reported included interference or mobility restraints. Conclusion: This review synthesizes the impacts of mechanical devices on the three domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for individuals with upper extremity impairments. Impacts regarding function and performance in activities were more often measured than participation. Future studies should include outcomes related to participation, as taking this aspect into account might favor successful continued use of assistive devices. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Mechanical mobile arm supports can compensate for upper extremity muscle weakness and help users to perform diverse activities against gravity, including self-care, productivity and leisure activities. Mechanical assistive devices designed for specific activities of daily living (ADLs) can increase users' ability to perform activities requiring manual dexterity and fine motor skills, such as eating, handwriting, performing personal care or playing a musical instrument. Portability, adaptability, low cost, and ease of use are most often reported as strengths of specific ADL devices, while interference and mobility restrictions are aspects that still need to be reduced with respect to mechanical mobile arm supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to document the effects of hippotherapy on the 12 life habits of children with various disabilities. A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was conducted to identify relevant studies. Five databases were consulted. Inclusion criteria were: 2-to-18 years old; therapy provided by a PT, OT or SLP/SLT; variables relevant to life habits as defined by the Human Development Model – Disability Creation Process. Quality was analyzed using a quantitative studies critical review form developed by the McMaster University Occupational Therapy Evidence-Based Practice Research Group. Levels of evidence were evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines. The investigations' overall quality ratings were excellent (n = 5 studies), acceptable (n = 10) and poor (n = 8); the evidence levels were 2/high (n = 2), 3/moderate (n = 3) and 4/low (n = 18). This systematic review suggests an observable connection between hippotherapy and improvements in three habits (mobility, communication, interpersonal relationships). The findings provide support for hippotherapy as a therapy with a positive impact on three categories of life habits. Further research is warranted for education, housing, nutrition, personal care and recreation (only 3 studies), as well as community and spiritual life, employment, physical fitness and psychological well-being and responsibility (no studies). Occupational, physical and speech language therapists must continue to intervene with children with developmental delays related to various diagnoses as demonstrated by 15 studies involving hippotherapy rated from acceptable to excellent quality. Given improvements, therapists should pursue hippotherapy in mobility, communication, interpersonal relationships, as established specifically by five studies with moderate to high evidence. Given three studies in hippotherapy, therapists are encouraged to document improvement in other life habits such as education, housing, nutrition, personal care and recreation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ), BriefMHQ, and URAM present adequate convergent validity. • The MHQ, BriefMHQ, Unité Rhumatologique des Affections de la Main (URAM), Southampton Dupuytren's Scoring Scheme (SDSS), Short Form-36 and the multi-attribute of the Health Utility Index -3 have good test-retest reliability. • The MHQ and BriefMHQ are highly responsive. • The results of this systematic review support the use of the MHQ and BriefMHQ in individuals with Dupuytren's Disease. Functional impairments related to Dupuytren's disease (DD) can be assessed using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). A systematic review was published in 2013 on outcome measures for assessing treatment in individuals with DD; however, several articles have since been published on this matter. To conduct a systematic review to analyze the quality and content of the evidence on the psychometric properties of PROMs used in individuals with DD. Systematic review. CINAHL, EBM reviews, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies evaluating the psychometric properties of PROMs used with individuals with DD. All studies retained were appraised by two independent assessors using two validated critical appraisal tools. Fifteen articles on the psychometric properties of 10 PROMs were included. Construct validity and responsiveness were the most studied. Eighty percent of the studies were of good to very good methodological quality according to MacDermid's Critical appraisal checklist for psychometric articles, whereas 67% of the studies comported risks of bias according to the COSMIN checklist. Of the 10 PROMs, three were specifically developed for DD but remain mostly under-studied for their psychometric properties (≤ 2 studies for the SDSS and DIF-CHUM). The QuickDASH, MHQ, BriefMHQ, and URAM present moderate to good convergent validity. Test-retest reliability was found to be good for the MHQ, briefMHQ, URAM, SDSS, SF-36, and the multi-attribute of the HUI-3. The MHQ and BriefMHQ are highly responsive. There is a need for more psychometric studies on the PROMs used with individuals with DD. However, to date, the results included in this systematic review support that the MHQ and briefMHQ are the PROMs with the most acceptable psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]