Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a chronic condition that causes intense burning or aching pain, swelling and hypersensitivity in usually the arm or leg. The diagnosis is based on the patient presenting with a set of symptoms rather than a physiological sign. The pain usually gets gradually worse and may spread to other parts of the body.
Because the patient experiences pain during movement of the limb the patient stops to use the limb. This causes atrophy, progressive weakness and degeneration of the limb. Therefore the underlying principles of treatment are mobilization of the limb.
Case studies using the HandTutor on patients suffering from CRPS have shown that the patient moves his fingers and wrist during the exercise task presented by the dedicated rehabilitation software. It is thought that the "rehabilitation" games distract the patient from the pain allowing mobilization of the affected limb and preventing disuse atrophy and aiding functional rehabilitation.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Outcomes of musculoskeletal surgeries in adult patients with cerebral palsy
The above paper concludes that the goal of upper and lower extremity musculoskeletal surgery should be an improvement in patients' functional ability.
Surgery is performed in order to improve functional ability by correcting or improving the underlying anatomical musculskeletal problem. This will facilitate physiological movement and allow for the development of a normal movement pattern.
In upper or lower extremity/ limb rehabilitation following for example arm and leg surgery, Physical and Occupational therapy must be designed to ensure that as near a normal movement pattern will be achieved. In order to do this the PT/ OT has to customize the exercise task to the patients' movement impairment. HandTutor provides sensory motor impairment oriented training by giving the patient games that require isolated, co-ordinated and accurate finger and wrist movements. At the same time the HandTutor dedicated rehabilitation computer games motivate and improve concentration and allow for intensive practice. Optimal functional outcome is achieved by combining HandTutor with traditional task specific training. The LegTutor by MediTouch provides objective knee and ankle kinematic evaluations and customized active practice with augmented feedback/ biofeedback using the same customizable rehabilitation software as the HandTutor.
Surgery is performed in order to improve functional ability by correcting or improving the underlying anatomical musculskeletal problem. This will facilitate physiological movement and allow for the development of a normal movement pattern.
In upper or lower extremity/ limb rehabilitation following for example arm and leg surgery, Physical and Occupational therapy must be designed to ensure that as near a normal movement pattern will be achieved. In order to do this the PT/ OT has to customize the exercise task to the patients' movement impairment. HandTutor provides sensory motor impairment oriented training by giving the patient games that require isolated, co-ordinated and accurate finger and wrist movements. At the same time the HandTutor dedicated rehabilitation computer games motivate and improve concentration and allow for intensive practice. Optimal functional outcome is achieved by combining HandTutor with traditional task specific training. The LegTutor by MediTouch provides objective knee and ankle kinematic evaluations and customized active practice with augmented feedback/ biofeedback using the same customizable rehabilitation software as the HandTutor.
Monday 22 February 2010
Optimising home rehabilitation functional outcome
Falling Through the Cracks: A Literature Review to Understand the Reality of Mild Stroke Survivors
http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/j15g01377802u232/
The link discusses how mild stroke survivors may present impairments that do not interfere with basic activities of daily living but do affect performance of complex tasks. Home interventions were found to help patients maximize their functions and improve rehabilitation outcome. However the majority of mild stroke survivors are sent home without referral to rehabilitation services although they present functional deficits.
Home rehabilitation will give better outcome if the dedicated supervised therapy sessions are as regular and intensive as in an in patient environment. However early release may be based on a logistical and financial decision rather a health decision.
The article points out however that the majority of mild stroke survivors are sent home without referral to rehabilitation services and their handicap/ disability, if not addressed, can lead to immobility demotivation, depression and the lack of ability to do active daily living tasks (ADL). This will prevent their reintegration into the community.
In order to enhance functional recovery it is fundamental that a customized home based rehabilitation program ensures that traditional task and exerise based rehabilitation is undertaken intensively and regularly.
The MediTouch HandTutor is a rehabilitation glove and software which offers impairment orientated training (IOT) and augmented feedback. The HandTutor provides repetitive customized isolated or inter joint co-ordinated finger and wrist hand exercises and rehabilitates fine movements of the hand and wrist. At the same time the dedicated rehabilitation software motivates the patient to continue intensive repetitive exercises by providing challenging games that have been designed around both neurological and Orthopedic conditions.
Research with the HandTutor confirms that task oriented training should be combined with Impairment oriented (IOT) training to achieve enhanced functional recovery. The HandTutor is used in hospitals and community hand therapy clinics and home care to give an intensive active isolated exercise program. In home care the HandTutor can be supported by out patient therapy sessions or PT/ OT home visits or by tele rehabilitation therapy.
Examples of patients that are treated include Stroke, TBI, spinal cord injury CP, Orthopedic hand and arm surgery, development co-ordination disorders in children etc.
http://thomasland.metapress.com/content/j15g01377802u232/
The link discusses how mild stroke survivors may present impairments that do not interfere with basic activities of daily living but do affect performance of complex tasks. Home interventions were found to help patients maximize their functions and improve rehabilitation outcome. However the majority of mild stroke survivors are sent home without referral to rehabilitation services although they present functional deficits.
Home rehabilitation will give better outcome if the dedicated supervised therapy sessions are as regular and intensive as in an in patient environment. However early release may be based on a logistical and financial decision rather a health decision.
The article points out however that the majority of mild stroke survivors are sent home without referral to rehabilitation services and their handicap/ disability, if not addressed, can lead to immobility demotivation, depression and the lack of ability to do active daily living tasks (ADL). This will prevent their reintegration into the community.
In order to enhance functional recovery it is fundamental that a customized home based rehabilitation program ensures that traditional task and exerise based rehabilitation is undertaken intensively and regularly.
The MediTouch HandTutor is a rehabilitation glove and software which offers impairment orientated training (IOT) and augmented feedback. The HandTutor provides repetitive customized isolated or inter joint co-ordinated finger and wrist hand exercises and rehabilitates fine movements of the hand and wrist. At the same time the dedicated rehabilitation software motivates the patient to continue intensive repetitive exercises by providing challenging games that have been designed around both neurological and Orthopedic conditions.
Research with the HandTutor confirms that task oriented training should be combined with Impairment oriented (IOT) training to achieve enhanced functional recovery. The HandTutor is used in hospitals and community hand therapy clinics and home care to give an intensive active isolated exercise program. In home care the HandTutor can be supported by out patient therapy sessions or PT/ OT home visits or by tele rehabilitation therapy.
Examples of patients that are treated include Stroke, TBI, spinal cord injury CP, Orthopedic hand and arm surgery, development co-ordination disorders in children etc.
Comparing HandTutor dedicated rehabilitation to the Wii general exercise system
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2010-02-22-yourhealth22_ST_N.htm
The article from the USA today details so-called "Wiiitis" described as sore wrists and shoulders from overuse of the Nintendo Wii game's motion-sensitive remote even in healthy exercising individuals. These soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis are probably caused by overuse of gross motor movement and general exercise.
This can be compared to the MediTouch HandTutor dedicated rehabilitation software. the HandTutor works on the concept of repetitive fine motor, finger and wrist, isolated and combined exercises. The dedicated rehabilitation software allows the therapist to customize the games to the patients. All aspects of the exercise task can be customized such as difficulty and time to play for the game. This prevents overuse injuries however at the same time the physiotherapy and occupational therapy designed games are motivating and challenging for the patient.
The article from the USA today details so-called "Wiiitis" described as sore wrists and shoulders from overuse of the Nintendo Wii game's motion-sensitive remote even in healthy exercising individuals. These soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis are probably caused by overuse of gross motor movement and general exercise.
This can be compared to the MediTouch HandTutor dedicated rehabilitation software. the HandTutor works on the concept of repetitive fine motor, finger and wrist, isolated and combined exercises. The dedicated rehabilitation software allows the therapist to customize the games to the patients. All aspects of the exercise task can be customized such as difficulty and time to play for the game. This prevents overuse injuries however at the same time the physiotherapy and occupational therapy designed games are motivating and challenging for the patient.
Thursday 18 February 2010
Combined task oriented training and C.I with handTutor therapy
The above link discusses Constraint Induced Therapy.
An important component in achieving optimal rehabilitation outcome is intensive active movement practice. Traditional Occupational and Physical therapy provides the patient task orientated training (TOT). TOT is intensive repetition of everyday functional tasks or Active daily living tasks.
C.I or CIMT is Constraint Induced Movement therapy. By constraining the healthy hand C.I forces the patient to use only the affected hand with out relying on the healthy hand to eprform ADL. C.I therefore ensures that the patient performs intensive and repetitive functional ADL or exercise tasks.
The MediTouch HandTutor is a rehabilitation glove and software which offers impairment oriented training and augmented feedback or biofeedback. Impairment oriented training (IOT) relies firstly on an objective evaluation of the patients sensory motor and cognitive ability. A deficit in the sensory motor and cognitive ability is known as an impairment. Secondly IOT provides customized exercises for each impairment or exercises that group of impairments together.
The HandTutor provides repetitive customized isolated or inter joint co-ordinated finger and wrist hand exercises and rehabilitates fine movements of the hand and wrist. At the same time the dedicated rehabilitation software motivates the patient to continue intensive repetitive exercises by providing challenging games that have been designed around both neurological and Orthopedic conditions. Research with the HandTutor confirms that Task oriented training should be combined with Impairment oriented (IOT) training to achieve enhanced functional recovery. The HandTutor is used in hospitals and community clinics as well as through tele rehabilitation. Examples of patients that are treated include Stroke, TBI, spinal cord injury CP, Orthopedic hand and arm surgery, development co-ordination disorders in children etc. The HandTutor is available worldwide from clinically trained local representatives and in the US from
David Garber P.T.
Englewood Cliffs Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
701 Palisade Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
07632
Phone: 201 816 8925
Fax: 201 816 8926
therapysport.com
www.meditouch.co.il
Wednesday 17 February 2010
HandTutor IOT used together with an occupational adaptation approach to hand therapy
The Evidence Is Coming In on ADVANCE for Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Posted using ShareThis
The above link discusses how hand therapy shifts from Biomechanical to Occupational Adaptation. In view of this I discuss how HandTutor IOT with augmented movement feedback compliments a OA approach. The handTutor exercise tasks work on improving finger and wrist movement parameters. Functional tasks do not work on the limit of these movement parameters. For example when gripping a cup the hand impaired patient does not work on the full range of his finger motion and does not reach maximum finger extension or flexion. Doing intensive exercises that challenge the patient to reach their full potential extension and flexion and speed of operning and closing of the fingers will ensure that the functional task is easier to perform. At the same time working on intensive isolated finger or co-ordinated finger flexion and extension will ensure that the elbow and shoulder are strengthened to support these movements. This will mean that the patient is less likely to incorporate a compensatory movement pattern during the functional task.
Posted using ShareThis
The above link discusses how hand therapy shifts from Biomechanical to Occupational Adaptation. In view of this I discuss how HandTutor IOT with augmented movement feedback compliments a OA approach. The handTutor exercise tasks work on improving finger and wrist movement parameters. Functional tasks do not work on the limit of these movement parameters. For example when gripping a cup the hand impaired patient does not work on the full range of his finger motion and does not reach maximum finger extension or flexion. Doing intensive exercises that challenge the patient to reach their full potential extension and flexion and speed of operning and closing of the fingers will ensure that the functional task is easier to perform. At the same time working on intensive isolated finger or co-ordinated finger flexion and extension will ensure that the elbow and shoulder are strengthened to support these movements. This will mean that the patient is less likely to incorporate a compensatory movement pattern during the functional task.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
HandTutor treats children with ADHD and ADD
HandTutor is being used to treat children who have fine motor skill problems characterized by poor handwriting, cutting and painting skills and other functional tasks. These children have been diagnosed as having ADHD or ADD.
It has been found that fine motor training will improve the brain function of children with ADHD and ADD and improve academic achievement. Children are required to successfully do progressively more difficult fine motor tasks during their pre school and school careers. Children are therefore taught firstly to cut and paint before being taught to write. Thus their is a progression in the complexity of the task and the fine motor skill ability required to carry out the task. At the same time their is a progression in the concentration and attention to small details required to successfully complete the task.
The HandTutor provides sensory motor impairment orientated training by giving the child games that require isolated, co-ordinated and accurate finger and wrist movements. At the same time the HandTutor computer games motivate and improve concentration and allow for intensive practice. This practice will lead to better eye-hand co-ordination, and improved fine motor skill ability. This will allow the child to better perform the required functional task and encourage them to continue functional activities as they will begin to achieve better results. The HandTutor is suitable for children from 5 years old and upwards.
It has been found that fine motor training will improve the brain function of children with ADHD and ADD and improve academic achievement. Children are required to successfully do progressively more difficult fine motor tasks during their pre school and school careers. Children are therefore taught firstly to cut and paint before being taught to write. Thus their is a progression in the complexity of the task and the fine motor skill ability required to carry out the task. At the same time their is a progression in the concentration and attention to small details required to successfully complete the task.
The HandTutor provides sensory motor impairment orientated training by giving the child games that require isolated, co-ordinated and accurate finger and wrist movements. At the same time the HandTutor computer games motivate and improve concentration and allow for intensive practice. This practice will lead to better eye-hand co-ordination, and improved fine motor skill ability. This will allow the child to better perform the required functional task and encourage them to continue functional activities as they will begin to achieve better results. The HandTutor is suitable for children from 5 years old and upwards.
Monday 15 February 2010
Feasibility of a home-based telerehabilitation system compared to usual care: arm/hand function in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis
Sunday 14 February 2010
HandTutor used in tele-rehabilitation
The HandTutor is a rehabilitation glove and software which offers impairment orientated training and augmented feedback. The HandTutor rehabilitates fine movements of the hand and wrist by encouraging and motivating the patient to do active and intensive hand exercises. The device is used in hospitals and community clinics as well as through tele rehabilitation. Examples of patients that are treated include, TBI, stroke, spinal cord injury CP, Orthopedic hand and arm surgery, development co-ordination disorders in children etc.
The HandTutor is available worlwide from clinically trained local representatives www.meditouch.co.il
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