Handtutor System Aids Rehabilitation Patients with Games

Inside the physical therapy center at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital rehab patients are using unique methods for recovery.
For rehabilitation the patients are turning to video games to do their exercises and work through the pain.
“We’re actually putting them in situations where they can practice actual movements that they need to do and get that feedback they need for success,” says Therapy Services Director Kellie Johnson. “Wii-bowling by far is a favorite.”
The practice seems to be working for many patients who may have had a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or that were involved in a car accident.
It’s constantly growing and now even has its own name.
“Even in rehab it’s known as wii-rehabilitation, it’s so widely used in rehab now,” says Banner Good Sam’s physical therapist Suzanne Dilly. “We have started with a new Microsoft Kinect, which is more whole body movements than just using a censor in your hand.”
The HandTutor and its sisters (ArmTutor, LegTutor, 3DTutor) compliments and adds significantly to the ‘wii rehabilitation” used currently in Banner Rehabilitation Hospital. The games used in the TuTor system include “Snowball”, an automobile race, “Asteroid Attack”, Volley Ball“, “Sky defender” and several others. These games offer challenging exercises to the patient with sensory and cognitive impairments through intensive active training. They are not only fun but also provide a thorough documentation of patient performance that allows the therapist to customize the most suitable program that fits the patient’s ability.
The devices are currently being used in leading U.S. and foreign hospitals as well as in physical therapy clinics and even in the patient’s home with tele rehabilitation.