Elderly Can Maximize their Post Stroke Rehabilitation Therapy With the Tutor System

Michaela M. Pinter and Michael Brainin of the Department for Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria write about
“Rehabilitation after stroke in older people”
Because stroke is a leading cause of disability therefore rehabilitation is a major part of patient care. Interventions mostly do not target the aged patient but there is much evidence to promote rehabilitation in the multidisciplinary stroke units or have integrated care of a multidisciplinary team in every community. Most research has focused on the effect of such interventions on recovery in different forms of disability and impairment. One of the most promising options for motor recovery of the arm includes constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and robotic-assisted strategies. Interventions to improve postural stability and gait include fitness training, high-intensity therapy, and repetitive-task training. However, information about the clinical effect of various strategies of cognitive rehabilitation and strategies for aphasia and dysarthria is scarce. Several trials of rehabilitation trials are underway to test these interventions in the elderly. This would be done either alone or in combination with early mobilization, cardiorespiratory physical exercise and fitness training.
The TUTOR system has been developed for all ages to improve their mobility and limb movement post stroke, SCI, brain injury, upper and lower limb surgeries and other disabling diseases.
The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation. These innovative devices implement an impairment based program with augmented motion feedback that encourages motor learning through intensive active exercises and movement practice. The HANDTUTOR ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR consist of wearable glove and braces that detect limb movement showing the patient how much active or assisted active movement they are actually doing. The rehabilitation software uses special rehabilitation games to set a new target for the patient’s ability to move their limb. The devices then measure the limb movement and give feedback on the success of the patient in trying to gain this new objective. In this way the patient is given feedback that allows the patient to understand which effort is more successful. In this way the Tutor system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allows for repetitive and intensive exercise practice.
The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR is now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.