Clinical Evidence
A growing body of clinical evidence suggests that, for appropriately selected users, the MyoPro® may support functional activity, activities of daily living, and upper-extremity function. Recent studies involving home use and individuals with stroke have reported improvements in task completion, performance of daily activities, and upper-limb outcome measures.
These findings suggest improvements across multiple validated outcome measures and support the use of the MyoPro® as a customized, home-based assistive orthosis in appropriately selected individuals.
Overview
MyoPro® is an upper-limb orthosis designed to support performance of functional tasks with the affected limb. It is a compensatory device that uses the wearer’s own electromyography (EMG) signals to initiate powered movement. On the Myomo website, the device is indicated for adolescents ages 12 and older and adults with long-term muscle weakness, with candidacy determined through clinical evaluation and safe-use criteria.
Across the current evidence base, the most consistent findings center on three themes: improved functional task performance, improved performance of daily activities, and improvements in upper-extremity outcome measures among selected patients after stroke or other neurologic injury. The strongest evidence on Myomo’s research page currently includes peer-reviewed studies in chronic stroke, along with smaller studies and case series in traumatic brain injury and brachial plexus injury.
Outcomes
A 2023 home-use outcomes study published in Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation followed adults with chronic arm weakness after stroke over three months. Participants completed standardized daily tasks both with and without the MyoPro®. By three months, they were able to complete tasks more successfully, in less time, and with a higher probability of success when using the MyoPro® than without it. The authors concluded that participants were able to use their impaired arm more effectively during functional task performance in the home environment while using the device.
A 2024 retrospective study published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International evaluated home use of the MyoPro® in chronic stroke and reported improved Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, supporting potential benefits in perceived upper-limb disability and day-to-day arm use.
Earlier stroke studies have also reported improvements in measures of upper-extremity impairment. A 2020 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine studied myoelectric bracing in moderately impaired stroke survivors, while a 2017 study in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reported reduced upper-extremity impairment while participants wore the myoelectric elbow-wrist-hand orthosis.
Together, these studies suggest that the MyoPro® may support improvements in functional task performance, daily activity participation, and upper-extremity outcome measures when used in appropriately selected individuals.
Quality of life
For many patients, meaningful outcomes extend beyond assessment scores to participation in everyday activities. The available evidence suggests potential real-world functional benefits associated with MyoPro® use.
The 2023 home-use study specifically evaluated performance on simulated daily-living tasks and found that participants completed them more successfully and more efficiently while using the MyoPro®. Table 4 of the study highlights patient-reported examples of activities performed while using the device, including putting away socks, carrying dishes, folding towels, sweeping, making muffins, and stabilizing a bowl during food preparation.
These findings suggest that MyoPro® use may support participation in activities performed in the home environment. Participation in meaningful daily activities is often considered an important component of quality of life and patient-reported well-being.
The evidence base continues to evolve, and not every study directly evaluates quality of life as a primary endpoint. However, observed improvements in task success, time-to-completion, and upper-limb disability measures may represent clinically relevant changes that can be meaningful in everyday life for appropriately selected users.
Beyond stroke
While stroke represents the most developed portion of the evidence base, Myomo’s research library also includes published work involving traumatic brain injury, brachial plexus injury, and spinal cord injury. These studies are generally smaller and should be interpreted accordingly, but they help illustrate how myoelectric orthotic support has been studied across different diagnoses.
For brachial plexus injury, Myomo’s evidence page cites both patient-perspective research and retrospective clinical work. Mayo Clinic publication records identify a 2021 Prosthetics and Orthotics International article examining patient perspectives and a 2021 Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics case series describing elbow flexion support in individuals with brachial plexus injury.
What to expect
Patients and clinicians should approach MyoPro as part of a care pathway, not as a one-step solution. Myomo’s site presents the device as custom fabricated for each patient, with candidacy based on diagnosis, residual muscle signal, safety considerations, and functional goals. Myomo also provides clinician training resources, clinical resources, and an education pathway for Centers of Excellence and therapy training.
In practice, the journey usually includes:
The published home-use study followed users for three months and demonstrated improvements gradually over that period. The findings provide a reasonable evidence-based expectation that meaningful functional outcomes with the MyoPro are achieved through consistent use and practice rather than instantly on day one.
Who it helps
This page offers a clear overview of the clinical evidence behind MyoPro for clinicians, patients, caregivers, and coverage reviewers. It is intended for readers who want to better understand published outcomes related to functional use, activities of daily living, and quality of life.
FAQ
Studies involving MyoPro® and related myoelectric upper-limb orthoses have evaluated outcomes including functional task performance, task completion time, upper-extremity impairment measures, and patient-reported disability measures such as the DASH questionnaire.
In a recent home-use study, participants completed standardized daily tasks more successfully and in less time while using the MyoPro® compared with performance without the device.
Yes. Myomo’s evidence library includes multiple stroke studies, including a 2024 retrospective study, a 2023 home-use outcomes study, a 2020 randomized controlled trial, and earlier clinical series.
Yes, although the evidence base is more limited. Myomo’s evidence library includes smaller studies and case series involving traumatic brain injury, brachial plexus injury, and spinal cord injury.
Published home-use studies have followed participants for up to three months and reported improvements in selected functional outcome measures over that period. Outcomes may vary based on individual patient characteristics, goals, training, and device use.
Examples of contraindications on Myomo’s clinician FAQ include insufficient EMG signal, severe shoulder subluxation, excessive pain during facilitated movement, recovery from acute injury, contractures that prevent functional movement, severe spasticity, cognitive or behavioral impairment, and other medical issues that would interfere with safe use.
Yes. Myomo states that each MyoPro is custom fabricated for the individual patient for comfort and performance.
Yes. Myomo offers clinical resources, fitting materials, clinician education, and Center of Excellence training support, indicating that setup, adjustment, and user instruction are core parts of successful use.
References
