Tutor System Aids in Motor Weakness Rehabilitation

Drs. O. L. Kim and S. H. Kim of the College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea write in the November 14,
2011 issue of Archives of Neurology about the fact that many studies have attempted to elucidate the causes of motor weakness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most of these studies have focused on the specific cause of motor weakness. However, little is known about the classification and elucidation of the causes of motor weakness in consecutive patients with TBI.
To attempt to classify with diffusion tensor imaging the causes of motor weakness in patients with TBI by conducting an analysis of the injury mechanism of the corticospinal tract (CST).a study was conducted.
The study took place in the rehabilitation department of a university hospital. They recruited 41 consecutive patients who showed motor weakness among patients with TBI admitted for rehabilitation.
They classified the causes of weakness according to the injury mechanism of the CST on diffusion tensor imaging and
found that the injury mechanisms of the CST were classified as follows, in order: diffuse axonal injury, 24 patients (58.5%); traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, 9 patients (21.9%); transtentorial herniation, 6 patients (14.6%); and focal cortical contusion, 4 patients (9.8%). In patients with diffuse axonal injury, the mean number of lesions composing CST injury was 3.6 (range, 2-6) and CST injury locations were as follows: the pons (61%), the cerebral peduncle (50%), the medulla (40%), the posterior limb of the internal capsule (17%), and the corona radiata (13%).
The conclusions they found were that diffusion tensor imaging was useful in elucidation and classification of the causes of motor weakness resulting from CST injury in patients with TBI.
When the Tutor system enters the “rehabilitation picture” the potential results are markedly improved. Used for SCI as well as brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, MS, CP, stoke, upper and lower extremity surgeries, Radial and Ulnar nerve injuries, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and other disabilities the Tutor system implements an impairment based rehabilitation program with augmented feedback and encourages motor learning through intensive active exercises.
The newly developed Tutors and its component devices (HandTutor, ArmTutor, LegTutor, 3DTutor) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The Tutor system also includes objective quantitative evaluations that provide the therapist information to customize the most suitable rehabilitation program to the patient’s ability. Currently part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals the Tutors are also used in clinics and at home through the use of telerehabilitation. The Tutors are suitable for children as well as adults.See www.HandTutor.com