Hand, Arm, Leg and 3DTutors Boost Success in Rehabilitation Therapy

Dr A Towfighi of the Division of Stroke and Critical Care, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA discusses the following research in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, November 2011
Background: Little is known about the effects of a healthy lifestyle on mortality after stroke. This study assessed whether five healthy lifestyle factors had independent and dose dependent associations with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after stroke.
Methods: In a nationally representative sample of the US population (n=15 299) with previous stroke (n=649) followed from survey participation (1988–1994) through to mortality assessment (2000), the relationship between five factors (eating ≥5 servings of fruits/vegetables per day, exercising >12 times/month, having a body mass index of 18.5–29.9 mg/kg2, moderate alcohol use [1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men] and not smoking) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was assessed.
Results: Mean age was 67.0 years (SE 1.1 years) and 53% were women. After adjusting for covariates, abstaining from smoking (HR 0.57, CI 0.34 to 0.98) and exercising regularly (HR 0.66, CI 0.44 to 0.99) were associated with lower all-cause mortality but no individual factors had independent associations with cardiovascular mortality. All-cause mortality decreased with higher numbers of healthy behaviours (1–3 factors vs none: HR 0.12, CI 0.03 to 0.47; 4–5 factors vs none: HR 0.04, CI 0.01 to 0.20; 4–5 factors vs 1–3 factors: HR 0.38, CI 0.22 to 0.66; trend p=0.04). Similar effects were observed for cardiovascular mortality (4–5 factors vs none: HR 0.08, CI 0.01 to 0.66; 1–3 factors vs none: HR 0.15, CI 0.02 to 1.15; 4–5 factors vs 1–3 factors: HR 0.53, CI 0.28 to 0.98; trend p=0.18).
Conclusions: Regular exercise and abstinence from smoking were independently associated with lower all-cause mortality after stroke. Combinations of healthy lifestyle factors were associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a dose dependent fashion.
Relative to a good feeling about yourself and your progress after a stroke is the ability to return to a normal lifestyle. When this can be accomplished in a fun way it makes the rehabilitation process enjoyable and satisfying.
The Tutor system provides just such a choice.
The HandTutor, LegTutor, ArmTutor and 3DTutor offer rehabilitation following stroke, brain or spinal injury, Parkinson’s and many other injuries or diseases that impede joint movement. The dedicated software uses a variety of games to assist the patient in renewing his movement skills.
These innovative Tutor devices implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. The exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The system also includes objective quantitative evaluations that provide the therapist information to customize the most suitable rehabilitation program to the patient’s ability.
The Tutor system is being used in leading U.S. and foreign hospitals as well as clinics and is adaptable for adults as well as children. In addition the Tutors can also be used at home through tele rehabilitation. See www.HandTutor.com