Children Benefit from the Tutor System in Physical Therapy

The following explanations are explained via the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Hemiparesis is experienced by one of three children with cerebral palsy (CP). This is the impairment affecting one side of the body. Hemiparesis is also found among children who experience childhood strokes, traumatic brain injuries and other central nervous system conditions.
In about 1.5 per 1000 live births there may be neonatal Brachial Plexus injury (BPI) caused by the birth or traumatic injury to the brachial plexus (which is an injury of the peripheral nervous system). Similar to children with hemiparesis, these children often have poor functioning of one arm while the other arm is usually normal.
Children with impaired functioning of one of their arms can have disabling symptoms affecting play, school, and self-care. Hand and arm functioning may be affected by abnormal muscle tone and flexion synergies, decreased strength, decreased active and passive range of motion, altered sensation, and neglect . Also, children with hemiplegia due to central nervous system damage are often affected by mirror movements–unconscious and uncontrolled movement of one hand following the same pattern as the contralateral hand—impacting the ability to use two hands when the hands are required to do different movements (for example, one hand stabilizes an object while the other acts on the object).
Current theory suggests that children with unilateral upper extremity impairment must overcome “developmental non-use”, a term which indicates that the children never have used the impaired upper extremity. Another term frequently used is “learned non-use”, this refers to hemiplegia in an individual who previously had functional use of the arm
Traditionally, children with hemiplegia or brachial plexus injury receive physical therapy and occupational therapy services to maximize their functional skills. Conventional treatment approaches focus on a mix of biomechanical, developmental, neurodevelopmental, and rehabilitative (including compensatory) models.
If the child is at least around the age of 4 or 5 the recently developed TUTOR system can be of great assistance in physical therapy.
The HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical and occupational therapy for children as well as adults. These innovative devices implement an impairment based exercise program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. Manual therapy is the provision of exercise practice by an occupational and physical therapist. As the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR allow the PT and OT to customize the exercises, the patient is given motivating tasks through computer games with biofeedback that give them the correct dose of manual therapy. This means that the CP, Parkinson’s, stroke, or TBI patient is given exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. Even patients with severe movement dysfunction can benefit from intensive exercise practice as the TUTOR system picks up even small angles of joint movement. The TUTOR system also allows the OT and PT to make objective reports and evaluations on the patient’s movement ability so his progress can be maintained and shown to both himself and his family. This is also a strong motivation to carry on training and improve movement and functional everyday living ability. The HANDTUTOR and ARMTUTOR are a major part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals. The TUTORS are also used in clinics and at home care supported by telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.