In her Ph.d. thesis from University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands, Dr. Molier discusses the influence of augmented feedback on learning upper extremity tasks after stroke. The thesis is topical due to the increasing use of augmented feedback in physical and occupational therapy of the hemiparetic arm after stroke. Also it mentions the introduction of motion feedback and robotic systems including the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and LEGTUTOR. Based on literature reviews and her own work Dr. Molier discusses how augmented feedback has an added value to the rehabilitation and physical therapy of stroke survivors. It is that postion feedback during a functional task will show the errors that they are making and stimulate motor learning and how the patient corrects these errors. The TUTOR system - HANDTUTOR and ARMTUTOR gives the patient information on the position of more than one joint that they are exercising during the training task. This ensures that the patient is given feedback on the correct position of the arm during a functional task including reaching and pointing. This increases the benefit of the physiotherapy exercise training.
The evidence exists. TUTOR systems are relatively inexpensive so why not give the rehabilitation clinics in the US and National Health Service in the UK a budget to make the treatment options available. Allow the patient to use their disability allowances to purchase this technology and benefit from remote support, intensive physical rehabilitation and exercise practice which are shown to improve functional movement ability and rehabilitation outcome?
See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.
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