The Tutor System can be Used Successfully with Bobath or CIMT Methods in Physical Rehabilitation

A trial study was conducted by Burcu Ersoz Huseyinsinoglu etal of the Stroke Unit, Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey to determine which method of rehabilitation is more effective for stroke victim’s arm function–the Bobath Concept or Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT).
The objective of the study was to compare the effects of the Bobath Concept and CIMT on arm functional recovery among stroke patients that had a high level of function on the affected side.
This was a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial that took place in an outpatient physiotherapy department of a stroke unit. 24 patients were randomized to both systems.
The Bobath group was treated for 1 hour whereas the CIMT group received training for 3 hours per day for 10 consecutive weekdays.
The conclusions drawn were that CIMT and the Bobath Concept have similar efficiencies in improving functional ability, speed and quality of movement in the paretic arm among stroke patients that have a high level of function. CIMT seems to be slightly more efficient than the Bobath Concept in improving the amount and quality of affected arm use.
Both methods are enhanced when the TUTOR system is in place.
The ARMTUTOR has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the shoulder, elbow, 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 (PT) (OT) 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. It does this through the use of various games which 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 injuries and diseases.
The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise at a customized difficulty level. This level is set by the OT or PT and encourages the patient to do intensive repetitive exercise practice.
The ARMTUTOR allows for isolated and a combination of elbow and three directional shoulder treatments. The system provides detailed exercise 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 or compensatory joint movement pattern and this will ensure better performance of functional tasks.
The Arm Tutor and its sister devices (LEGTUTOR, HANDTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) are used wordwide in hospitals and clinics and are FDA and CE certified. They can be used at home through telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.