Post Stroke Patient Benefits from HandTutor

Dr. A.T. Patel, MD, Kansas City Bone and Joint Clinic, PA, and The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri. writing in the journal PHYSICAL THERAPY, August 2011 about poststoke spasticity. Poststroke spasticity often negatively affects functional activities and daily living and frequently is accompanied by pain, abnormal limb postures, and contractures. The purpose of this case report is to describe the long-term benefit of botulinum toxin A in a patient with poststroke spasticity.
A 35-year-old woman with poststroke upper-limb spasticity who had lost function in her left hand was treated with onabotulinumtoxinA and physical therapy. Over 25 months, the patient underwent a physical therapy and occupational therapy program and received onabotulinumtoxinA injections into muscles of the left hand and arm, significantly reducing tone and facilitating recovery of function. Practical assessments, the Ashworth Scale, and electrophysiology were used to measure changes over time. No functional scales or dexterity scales were used to measure changes.
The outcomes were that OnabotulinumtoxinA injections were discontinued when treatment goals were attained, and no further improvements were achieved. After more than 2½ years without further onabotulinumtoxinA treatments, the patient maintained range of motion and some functional use and dexterity in her left hand.
This case report illustrates the efficacy and long-term benefit of onabotulinumtoxinA, combined with a physical therapy program, in the successful treatment of poststroke spasticity.
The preferred method of physical therapy for poststroke victims who lack normal movement in their hand or arm is the HandTutor.
The HandTutor™ system is an active exercise based hand rehabilitation program that uses the accepted methods of impairment oriented training (IOT) with augmented feedback. The HandTutor™ evaluates and treats finger and hand movement dysfunction through exercises that encourage extension/ flexion of the finger(s) and wrist.
The HandTutor™ system consists of a safe comfortable glove, with position and speed sensors that precisely record finger and wrist motion, and dedicated rehabilitation software. The ergonomic gloves come in five sizes for both right and left hands. The rehabilitation system employs the known concept of biofeedback to give occupational and physical therapists access to an affordable user friendly hand rehabilitation package. The HandTutor™ can also be used in combination with the 3DTutor™ for arm rehabilitation. The HandTutor™ is CE medical and FDA certified. Now being used in leading U.S. and foreign hospitals and clinics the Tutor system (ArmTutor, LegTutor, 3DTutor) can be used by recovering patients at home through the use of telerehabilitation.