Our Story
From a Dartmouth engineering capstone to a non-profit on a mission to transform rehabilitation for spastic hemiparesis.
Where It All Began
Our founding sponsor, a member of the Dartmouth community, developed spastic hemiparesis following a stroke. For years they searched for a device that could help them regain function in their affected hand, but nothing on the market met their needs. Existing devices were too rigid, too expensive, or impossible to put on without assistance. At one point they resorted to holding a pill bottle in their affected hand simply to maintain some degree of stretch.
Determined to find a better solution — not just for themselves, but for others living with the same condition — they sponsored a capstone engineering project at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. That project became Hemi-Hand.
Understanding Spastic Hemiparesis
Motor Signal Dysfunction
Damage to the brain, often from a stroke or traumatic injury, disrupts the motor signals that control muscle movement.
Upper Limb Contraction
Without proper signaling, the muscles in the hand and arm contract involuntarily, pulling the fingers into a fist.
Reduced Functionality
The chronic contraction severely limits the patient's ability to use their hand for everyday tasks, reducing independence.
Patient Perspectives
"Had it for [over a decade] and I sort of have a museum of things that I've tried."
"…only have one and a half hands and dealing with velcro is a real pain in the neck."
"Need some kind of initial mobility for those gloves... a prerequisite to put your hand into another glove."