Neighborhood Effect on Stroke Patient Recovery

According to Cari Jo Clark, Sc.D., assistant professor, medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Scott C. Brown, Ph.D., research assistant professor, epidemiology and public health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine writing in the journal Stroke on April 14, 2011, seniors that live in neighborhoods where they have a lot of neighborly interaction stand a much better chance of surviving a stroke.
Each factor of cohesion with their neighbor (seeing, talking, calling on them for assistance etc.) increases the survival rate by 53 percent and may even prevent mortality. These factors show the importance of living in a positive and cohesive neighborhood according to Dr. Clark.
In the Chicago area study neighbors were asked about talking to people in the street, doing yard work, taking care of children and whether they watched out for each other, whether neighbors were known by name, how many friends they had and who they could call on for help. This is called ”cohesion”. Even after taking into account factors such as: socioeconomic status, high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes and obesity the findings still remained significant.
Strangely and without explanation the positive effects of the study were found for whites and not blacks. Further research is needed to determine why this cohesiveness is not shared equally by the different race groups. Dr. Brown believes that shared values might promote healthy behaviors between neighbors. There might be other factors that come into play such as health care access or crime.
Access to the best rehabilitation systems may alleviate physical problems resulting from the stroke. Such systems include the TUTORs. Known as the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR, they have been designed to optimize motor, sensory and cognitive performance for stroke patients and thereby improve their quality of life. These innovative devices implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. This training is tailored and customized by the occupational and physical therapist to ensure that the patient stays motivated to do intensive repetitive manual therapy and exercise practice.
The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals with the TUTORs being used in clinics and in the patient’s homes. The system is also used for physical rehabilitation after TBI, SCI, CP and effects of Parkinson’s disease, upper and lower limb surgeries and other issues of physical disability. Home care patients can be supported by the occupational and physical therapist offering tele-rehabilitation. The TUTORs are FDA and CE certified. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM