ArmTutor Aids in Stroke Rehabilitation With Games

Published in the Journal:”Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation” ,Nov-Dec 2011
Sarah O. Schuck, BA, OTS etal of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio discuss a pilot study that evaluates the efficacy of treatment gaming devices on 2 chronic stroke survivors. The conclusions they reached were that the participants experienced increased quality of life, a greater propensity to use their affected arm, and enhanced task performance without exhibiting motor changes. Additionally, the Core treatment gaming device was reported by the participants to be very motivating as a modality in the therapy setting.
The recently developed ARMTUTOR uses a series of custom made games to encourage stroke victims to use their affected limb(s).
The ARMTUTOR system has been created to allow for functional rehabilitation of the shoulder, elbow and wrist or upper extremity. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable arm brace and dedicated physical rehabilitation software. The ARMTUTOR system allows for interactive rehabilitation exercise and a range of biomechanical evaluations including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the upper extremity. This quantitative data allows Physical and occupational therapists (OT) (PT) to customize the right exercise parameters to the patient‘s movement ability and report on the patient’s exercise progress. The ARMTUTOR rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled and repetitive exercise rehabilitation practice through the use of various games. The games are at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The rehabilitation games are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease.
The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise at a customized difficulty level. This level is set by the occupational or physical therapist and encourages the patient to do intensive repetitive exercise practice.
The ARMTUTOR allows for isolated and a combination of elbow and three directional shoulder treatment. The system provides detailed performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s exercise performance. Overall. controlled exercise of multijoints within a normal movement pattern will prevent the patient developing an undesired and compensatory joint performance of functional tasks movement pattern and this will ensure better results.
The ARMTUTOR and its sister devices (LEGTUTOR, HANDTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) are used wordwide in hospitals and clinics. They can be used at home through telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.