LegTutor Preferred Method in Stroke Rehabilitation for Incomplete Paralysis

Todd Neale writing for MedPage Today on December 16, 2011 and has the article reviewed by Dori F. Zaleznik, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston discusses the following:
For patients who are unable to walk following a stroke, robot-assisted gait training results in greater long-term gains in mobility than conventional therapy for those with the most severe deficits, researchers found.
In a small randomized trial, the robot-assisted therapy was better at improving walking capacity through two years, but only among those with high motor impairment, according to Giovanni Morone, MD, of the Santa Lucia Foundation in Rome, and colleagues.
There were still no significant differences between the robot-assisted and conventional therapy groups among patients with low motor impairment at baseline.
The findings are concordant with previous studies, which have shown the effectiveness of robot-assisted walking training in nonambulant patients but not in patients who maintained some walking ability, as in the LEAPS trial.
The LegTutor™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity for stroke patients if they have incomplete paralysis. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable leg brace and dedicated rehabilitation software. The LegTutor™ system allows for a range of biomechanical evaluation including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the lower extremity. Quantitative biomechanical data allow for objective evaluation and rehabilitation treatment follow up. The LegTutor™ rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The exercises are designed in the form of challenging games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease.The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise task to their best ability and to continue exercise practice.
The LegTutor™ allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patients exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks.
The LegTutor™ system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide for physical rehabilitation following stroke, brain/spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, MS,CP and other upper and lower limb disabilities and has full FDA and CE certification. See www.HandTutor.com for more information..