The Tutor System–Known for its Importance in Movement Disorders

WASHINGTON D.C (Ivanhoe Newswire)October 2011 –72 million Americans are affected by movement disorders. Now, a lab is helping doctors learn how to treat these disorders. New technologies are allowing some patients to get the treatment they need.
Chris Tisch was born 17 weeks early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
“When I first saw him, his whole body was affected. He couldn’t stand up…could barely sit,” Katharine Alter, M.D., Medical director of Gait Lab National Institutes of Health told Ivanhoe.
Now, thanks in part to therapy he received at this NIH lab, Chris can walk on both legs and even hop .
Today, Chris is testing out a new gait analysis system. Ten infrared cameras record each step he makes and computer software creates a 3D image that tells doctors how his muscles move and recommends what treatments could help him.
A second technology, which is a balance testing system, is used for people with any type of movement disorder — emanating from stroke, Parkinson’s, MS and brain tumor patients. It helps doctors evaluate patients’ steadiness when they stand.
A robotic remote arm is being developed to help physical therapists treat people in faraway locations while doctors in the lab analyze movement.
Another device, an ultrasound machine, measures the thickness of muscles to show doctors if therapy has helped the patient improve.
The lab really measures human movement, whether it’s balance or walking or just general motion.
The National Institutes of Health Lab will soon be collaborating with the Department of Defense to study soldiers with traumatic brain injuries who have issues with balance and coordination. They will follow patients for about five years, looking for ways to help them improve.
The TUTOR system is one of the outstanding new set of devices created to improve movement disorders.
The TUTOR system, consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the whole body including the upper and lower extremity. The TUTORS consist of ergonomic wearable braces and include dedicated rehabilitation software that provide patient instructions and feedback to encourage intensive controlled exercise practice. The HANDTUTOR is used to give hand therapy to patients with SCI, Parkinson’s disease, CP, MS, stroke, Radial/Ulnar nerve and Brachial Plexus injuries. Hand, arm and leg surgery rehabilitation are also assisted by the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR.
The TUTOR system allows for controlled exercise of multijoints within the normal movement pattern which prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement. This is especially important to ensure that brain and spinal cord injury patients learn to better perform functional tasks.
The new TUTOR system is a medical, physical and occupational therapy rehabilitation device that is used by children as well as adults and through the use of telerehabilitation. They are FDA and CE certified. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.