Melodious Therapy for Parkinson’s Patients

CLAUDIO PACCHETTI, MD, etal of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Centre, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy conducted a study about the use of music in conjunction with physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease patients. The aim of therapists to manage Parkinson’s disease (PD) is to obtain symptom control as well as to reduce clinical disability and to improve quality of life. By incorporating music into the therapy program the patient exercises his motor as well as emotional responses.They explored the efficacy of active music therapy (MT) on the motor and emotional functions in patients with PD. The study lasted 3 months. It consisted of weekly sessions of MT and physical therapy (PT).They used thirty-two patients with PD made up of two groups of 16 each. PT sessions included a series of passive stretching exercises, strategies to improve balance and gait and specific motor tasks. The results showed that MT had a significant overall effect on bradykinesia as measured by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Improvements in activities of daily living and in quality of life were also documented in the MT group. PT improved rigidity. The conclusions drawn were that MT is effective on motor, affect, and behavioral functions. They propose active MT as a new method for inclusion in PD rehabilitation programs. In addition to the music therapy integrated into the physical therapy program making use of the TUTOR system can also enhance the motivation of Parkinson’s patients. The exercises that are part of the TUTOR system consist of specific games that challenge the patient to move his affected limb. The newly developed HANDTUTOR physical therapy product, for example, has become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation for Parkinson’s,TBI and stroke victims and those recovering from spinal cord injuries, MS, CP and other limb movement limitations. The HANDTUTOR is a hand therapy tool used by occupational and physical therapists. This innovative device implements an impairment based program with augmented motion feedback that encourages motor learning through intensive active exercises and movement practice. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR consist of wearable glove and braces that detect limb movements showing the patient how much active or assisted active movement they are actually accomplishing. The rehabilitation software uses special rehabilitation games to set a new target in terms of 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 this new objective. In this way the patient is given feedback that allows him to understand which effort is more successful in moving their affected limb again. Subsequently the TUTOR system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are now part of the physical therapy solutions of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Who Stimulates Physical Therapy?

In a race to produce the newest device allowing limb movement mobility following stroke or other paralyzing diseases or injuries, companies are producing a myriad of robotic instruments aimed to ”assist” the patient to move his affected limb. As an example, a German engineering firm has recently developed a mechanical exo-skeleton that can be worn like a glove to increase productivity for factory workers or help in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The device uses pneumatic actuators on each finger to simulate the range of human finger movement. The ”actuators move the fingers” so that they can be opened and closed. The disadvantage with such devices are that they are large and cumbersome, are very expensive to use, can only be used where the device exists and, as above, does the work for the patient instead of having the patient learn the movement on his own. The HANDTUTOR, on the other hand, is a small, easy to put on ergonomic glove-like device that fits snugly onto the patient’s hand, allows quite a bit of room to maneuver, is one of the most cost effective medical devices of its type and can be used in the clinic, hospital or even at home through the use of telerehabilitation. Most important, though, is the fact that the patient himself activates the movement and thereby relearns his original skill rather than depending on an outside source to stimulate the limb. The HANDTUTOR and its sister physical therapy products (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) challenges the patient to intensive active exercises through the use of special rehabilitation games. The results are monitored by physical or occupational therapists who then evaluate the patient’s progress and customize a program appropriate for that patient’s ability. The TUTORs are currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics and are fully certified by the FDA and CE. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Pediatric Neurology Solutions

The following is a summary of a study published in the European Journal of Paediatric Neurology( EJPN) in January,2012. The official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society . It is important to gain insights into upper limb impairments and how they relate with activity in children who have unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). It is also important to optimize treatment interventions. The AIMS of the study were (1) To investigate upper limb impairments and activity limitations in children with unilateral CP; (2) to compare these impairments according to the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and (3) to determine the impact of impairments on activity measures. Eighty-one children with unilateral CP aged 5-15 years were used in the study. The CONCLUSIONS reached in general were that additional use of impairment-based interventions were necessary. Enter the TUTORs. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR. are newly developed physical therapy products that have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation that provides additional impairment interventions. The TUTORs are used for victims of CP, stroke, brain and spinal injuries, Parkinson’s, MS and other limb movement limitations. These innovative products implement an impairment based program with augmented motion feedback that encourages motor learning through intensive active exercises and movement practice. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR consist of a 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 games to set a new target for this movement in terms of the patient’s ability to move their limb. The devices then measure that movement and give feedback on the success of the patient in trying to gain his objective. In this way the patient is given feedback that lets him understand which effort is more successful in allowing their affected limb to gain normal movement. The TUTOR system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice. The TUTORs are now part of the physical therapy solutions of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Benefits of Yoga and Physical Therapy Solutions

Following the birth of a child and the accompanying aches and pains it is advisable to begin exercising and return to previous fitness levels. Enrolling in a Yoga class, running and biking would be a preferred routine. Yoga can make the participant feel better and better the more it’s done. Yoga and physical therapy improve function and decrease pain for a variety of reasons. The two concurrent programs can target individual specific needs such as flexibility, strength and posture. Yoga may be the originator of many physical therapy exercises. The yoga specialists and physical therapists are specialists in musculoskeletal deficiencies as well as some diseases. The mind/body connection is very important to the success of both skills. Both systems manage injury and disease by incorporating powerful mindfulness and movement. Post-partum pain and chronic low back pain can be helped by both. The patient of Parkinson’s, spinal cord/brain injury, MS, CP, upper and lower limb surgeries amongst other disabling diseases can benefit from a combination of Yoga and physical therapy solutions such as the TUTOR system. The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation for stroke victims and those recovering from brain and spinal injuries,Parkinson’s, MS, CP and other limb movement limitations. 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 and 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 this movement in terms of the patient’s ability to move their affected limb. The devices then measure the limb movement and give feedback on the success of the patient in trying to gain this new movement objective. In this way the patient is given movement feedback that allows the patient to understand which effort is more successful in getting them to move their affected limb again. In this way the Tutor system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3 DTUTOR are now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Balance Therapy as a Physical Therapy Solution

OAKLAND, Calif., Apr 25, 2012. Attaining proper balance and walking ability for Multiple Sclerosis patients is a challenge, An NIH study entitled “Movement Ability Changes with Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW) in Multiple Sclerosis” provided important results for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients suffering with balance and walking challenges. The study was funded by a National Institutes of Health Recovery Grant at Samuel Merritt University (SMU). Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Gail Widener, PT, and Dr. Diane Allen at San Francisco State University could thereby continue to do research into Balance-Based Torso Weighting (BBTW) and its effects on Multiple Sclerosis mobility challenges. The first phase of the study establishes that previous research funded by the National MS Society is validated. Physical Therapist, Cynthia Gibson-Horn, discovered that strategic application of small amounts of weight could counter-balance directional losses and dramatically improve stability in patients with MS, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, TBI, ataxia and other Sensory Based Motor Disorders (SBMD) while receiving treatment. This discovery led to the development of the BBTW method, which has helped hundreds of patients. “The first phase of the NIH study supplements other research into BBTW, the technology behind BalanceWear, which has been highly successful in improving mobility for patients with MS,” according to Steve Cookston, of Motion Therapeutics. Gibson-Horn agrees that each case is different regarding the degree of improvement that can be achieved after being fitted with BalanceWear. “Some patients walk nearly normally with BalanceWear” she says. “We can see immediately upon application if a patient’s balance has been corrected. Further, we now know that the improved stability provided by BalanceWear improves confidence, which can lead to improved success in physical therapy which often accelerates results.” Balance-Based Torso-Weighting is an assessment and treatment method that results in a BalanceWear custom made, strategically weighted orthotic. BalanceWear is made to the exact specifications for the patient’s counter-balancing requirements. It provides supplementary sensory information to the nervous system, and helps to improve balance and stability in all directions of movement. Clinically, patients with Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, head trauma, brain surgery, osteoporosis, ataxia, Cerebral Palsy and dizziness have found balance and mobility improvement with BalanceWear. Balance therapy is also one of the functions of the TUTOR system. Basically a LEGTUTOR or 3DTUTOR is placed on the less impaired leg and/or the more impaired leg.The patient then stands on one leg (either impaired or healthy) and then plays an aiming game like ”darts”. In this way he strengthens both his legs and improves balance as well as cognition.It also improves confidence and stability. 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 TUTOR system is a medical, physical and occupational therapy solution that is used by children as well as adults and through the use of telerehabilitation. They are FDA and CE certified. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information., .

Post Knee Replacement Physical Therapy–A “Piece of Cake”?

There are probably more articles about knee replacement than about any other medical procedure. One can read about expert advice and situations on a daily basis. And why not? There are approximately 600,000 knee replacements annually just in the U.S. alone. What is crucial, though, is the aftercare. If the surgery is to be successful the follow up therapy and advice needs to be adhered to. At first walkers and crutches are used, sitting in a chair for up to half an hour and then isometric exercises. All this before physical therapy even begins at home or elsewhere. One of the most important exercises will be to push the knee down in extension. When the therapy begins one of the best physical therapy solutions that can be helpful is the LEGTUTOR. The LEGTUTOR has shown remarkable success in post knee replacement surgery. The LEGTUTOR™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity. Together with the 3DTUTOR the LEGTUTOR can be used to increase the patient’s proprioception performance with dedicated games developed in the rehabilitation software for this outcome. The TUTOR system rehabilitation concept, which includes the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level including balance and proprioception training. This is achieved with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The exercises are designed in the form of challenging rehabilitation games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease. The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise task to their best ability and to continue exercise practice. Exercise practice is the most important manual therapy tool in the armory of physical and occupational therapists to ensure optimal rehabilitation. The LEGTUTOR™ allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks. The LEGTUTOR™ system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide for both neurological and orthopedic patients including adults and children. The TUTOR system holds FDA and CE certification. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Mental Imagery as a Tool in Physical Therapy

Drs. M. Grangeon, P. Revol, A. Guillot, G. Rode and C. Collet of The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit at the Henry Gabrielle Hospital in Lyon, France conducted a study to see whether motor imagery could be used along with conventional therapy for patients with spinal cord injury relevant to upper limb functioning. A participant was used where MI content was focused on improving hand transport to reach out and grasp with tenodesis. The participant was tested before and after 15 training sessions that lasted 45 min each, three times a week for 5 weeks. The participant’s ability to generate MI was checked and compliance with the rehabilitation program was confirmed. Decreased movement time and enhanced hand trajectory smoothness were still observed 3 months later, despite a slight decrease in performance. This study therefore supported the feasibility for introducing MI in conventional therapy. Further studies should confirm the potential role of MI in motor recovery with a larger sample. Upper limb functioning relevant to spinal cord injury is also treated with the newly innovated TUTOR system. Specifically the ARMTUTOR has the capability to enhance the intensive exercise programs necessary to restore normal functioning to those affected. The ARMTUTOR system, as a physical therapy solution, 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, which includes the HANDTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, 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 ARMTUTOR and its sister devices are among the foremost physical rehabilitation tools and are used wordwide in hospitals and clinics. They can be used at home through telerehabilitation See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Internet Based Versus Conventional Physical Therapy

A study conducted by T.G. Russell, P. Buttrum, and R. Wooton etal in 2011 used a 6 week, 65 participant patient base for looking at a comparison of a group using telehealth physical rehabilitation versus another conventional therapy group. The outcomes for flexion, extension, range of motion, muscle strength, limb girth, pain, quality of life and clinical test scores were the same for Internet based therapy (IBT) as for the conventional group. The study thus advocates for an investigation of cost reduction and comparative effectiveness for consumers of telehealth in physical therapy solutions. One of the best and most cost effective physical therapy tools on the market today is the TUTOR system. Its components, the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are gloves or braces that are attached to affected disabled limbs with sensors to a dedicated and exclusive software program. The patient with some paresis stemming from Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain/spinal cord injury, CP, MS or other limb disabling illnesses or surgeries is able to be involved in an intensive exercise program. The attending physical/occupational therapist then records the information and customizes the treatment session to fit the patient’s needs. This creates augmented feedback leading to enhanced functional rehabilitation. All this is available as a physical therapy solution through the use of telerehabilitation where the patient either has improved to the point that he doesn’t need hospitalization care or where he may be located too far from a rehabilitation facility. For more information on the TUTOR system see WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL

New Federal Health Law Faulty

On October 1, 2001, a section of the Medicare, Medicaid,and State Children’s Health Insurance Program Benefits Improvement Protection Act of 2000 expanded Medicare telehealth services to include consultations, officevisits, office psychiatry services, and any additional service specified by the secretary of health when delivered via a telecommunications system. As specified in the BIPA, originating sites where the telehealth services are rendered include practitioners’offices, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and acute care hospitals.More recently, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 expanded the list of telehealth providers to include hospital based renal dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities, and community mental health centers. With the expansion of originating sites for telehealth services beyond HPSAs, access to care has improved over the years. Although these payment policy models have evolved for healthcare agencies and practitioners,PHYSICAL THERAPY PROVIDERS of telehealth services ARE NOT PAID FOR through Medicare. This is a complete shame as the new medical reimbursement laws should establish ways to cut costs without skimping on services that are needed. Physical therapy services are, for many patients, the difference between remaining disabled and returning to normal functioning. The government seems to be ”cutting its nose to spite its face”. There is a higher fee if the patient and therapist have to work face to face. Telehealth/telerehabilitation has an important function in today’s society and should be fully taken advantage of. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information on tele health possibilities for physical therapy solutions.

The Future is Here

It was bound to happen in our futuristic society. How far we have come from the time when if one needed a doctor a family member would have to ride a horse to the nearest doctor’s home and get him to return with him to the home of the sick person. Today, and it will certainly improve from here, doctors can actually direct surgery remotely by ”telehealth” systems. Vital signs can be read remotely by nurses and doctors located away from the patient, 24 hour emergency services can be summoned by the press of a button, health education and advice can be seen on TV or the internet from distant locations where the expert is speaking, patient reminders to take their medicine is delivered by cell phone and on and on. The United States Veterans Administration developed several early telehealth programs meant for adults with complex medical conditions, resulting from diabetes, stroke, and, congestive heart failure. The one that is the most applicable for physical therapists is the “Low Activities of Daily Living Monitoring Program”, LAMP. This is a program, which is administered through a text messaging device where physical and occupational therapists are able to monitor the activities of daily living and safety of frail older adults living on their own. The VA also has developed a program to determine the effect of telehealth on physical function, disability, falls-related selfefficacy and patient satisfaction after discharge to the home. One of the most recent physical therapy products using telehealth is the TUTOR system. Through the use of telerehabilitation patients who sustained a spinal cord or brain injury, upper or lower limb surgery resulting in some paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, CP, MS and other such illnesses are able to conduct their intensive physical therapy activities in their own home if they have been discharged from the hospital or live too far away from a rehabilitation clinic. Rehabilitation using the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR is normally done at major rehabilitation in-patient and out-patient clinics as well as at private physical therapy clinics. The TUTOR system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the whole body including the upper and lower extremity. The system consists of ergonomic wearable devices and dedicated rehabilitation software that provide patient instructions and feedback to encourage intensive and controlled exercise practice. In this way, the TUTOR system allows for controlled exercise of multijoints within the normal movement pattern which prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement. It therefore ensures better performance of functional tasks. Additional features of the TUTOR physical therapy solution include quantitative evaluation and objective follow up that is important in the physiotherapists treatment of the stroke patient. Through the use of telerehabilitation the cost of treatment is kept to a minimum.The TUTORS are FDA and CE certified and are available for children as well as adults. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

New Innovations for Spinal Cord Injury Patient Rehabilitation

It’s not a secret that for people with spinal cord injury the recovery process is difficult and long. Therefore there are all kinds of fresh approaches to assist these patients in their recovery and to make it easier for them. One of these innovations is The First Steps Wellness Centre of Edmonton,Canada that just began its operations a little over a year ago. It is a rehabilitation gym that specializes in treating people with spinal cord injuries. In this short time over 30 clients are receiving this specialized treatment. The method at the center is to combine physiotherapy with a gym workout thereby improving muscle function. Their success is measured by the fact that their ”graduates” have more of a chance of walking again. Another recent innovation is the TUTOR system. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are physical therapy products that have been designed to administer intensive exercises to the spinal cord injury patient by having him move his affected limb through a series of challenging games. These are part of powerful and exclusive software that gives the therapist objective and quantitative information on the patient’s impairment. The information is then recorded and documented thereby allowing the occupational and physiotherapist to customize the treatment session to the patient’s specific needs. The TUTORs are extensively used as well for physical therapy solutions to Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, stroke, CP, MS, and other upper and lower limb disabilities or surgeries. The TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE, is available for adults as well as children and can be used at the patient’s home through rehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Medication Augments New Physical Therapy Solution

In the March/April 2012 issue of Clinical Neuropharmacology there is a discussion of a study about Pramipexole as a treatment option for essential tremor. The study was conducted by Norbert Kovács,MD, PhD etal.
The objectives of the study were to assess the possible efficacy, safety, and optimal dosage of the medication. Twenty-nine patients with essential tremor were part of this 16-week-long study.
At the conclusion of the study twenty-four patients completed the study. Some patients complained of nausea, daytime sleepiness, and anxiety. All the major outcome values demonstrated significant improvement. The severity of tremor was reduced by 52.0% The dose of 2.1 mg was more effective than that of 1.05 mg; however, both the immediate- and extended-release formulations were equally efficacious. After completion of the study, 15 patients wanted to remain on pramipexole treatment. The study suggests that Pramipexole may be effective in the treatment of essential tremor. However, more studies are required.
The dose and timing of Pramipexole can augment the functional gain of physiotherapy. The use of the TUTOR system as a physical therapy solution has shown to be effective in controlling tremors in Parkinson’s patients.
The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) have become a key physical therapy tool in neuromuscular rehabilitation for stroke victims and those recovering from brain and spinal injuries,Parkinson’s, MS, CP and other limb movement limitations. 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 and 3DTUTOR consist of a 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 this movement in terms of 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 movement objective. In this way the patient can understand which effort is more successful in allowing him to move his affected limb again. The Tutor system thereby provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are now part of the physical therapy solution of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. The TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE and can be used remotely by telerehabilitaion.See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

The Future is Here Now–Medically Speaking

Imagine a city full of elderly robots–well not exactly but maybe a whole population of elderly people that wouldn’t have to be hospitalized or see their doctors as often as they are now. Imagine that they are all connected to their medical professionals by wireless communication devices that report directly to their doctor as to their medical condition 24 hours a day. Imagine also that the medical bill for the population would plummet so that instead of being the third largest U.S.federal budget item (after defense and social security) it would now be perhaps the tenth. Billions of dollars would be saved because the elderly would stay home more often than be in the hospitals or nursing homes.
All this would be possible if the current trend continues that keeps baby boomers wired to their ipads and smart phones and wore skintight underclothes that contained sensors that monitored how the person was doing 24 hours a day. These and more inventions are not just science fiction but are already in experimental or actual use. Cell phones are already reminding people when to take their medicine.Switches carried around the neck or wrist that summon emergency help at the push of a button have been around for many years.
One of the largest U.S. based medical insurance companies, Humana, is already testing a thousand patients in 34 states with daily computer assisted monitors to detrmine if there is a sizeable reduction in medical costs.
In a year long British experiment it was found that emergency hospital admissions fell by 20 percent through the use of ”telehealth”. It further found that hospital stays were reduced by a quarter and readmissions fell by 14 percent. The results have caused the government to increase this project to 3 million homes over the next few years.
Some of this technology is also seen in ”telerehabilitation” where devices like the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are achieving major success in the field of physical rehabilitation for patients who suffered stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, upper/lower limb surgery and a host of other limb disabling diseases. The patient can do intensive exercise regimens right in his own home and the information and customization is transferred directly to the PT or OT. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

All in One Therapy Tool for Motor Skill Deficiency

When a human being is created he possesses two types of motor skills in order to operate his body efficiently. One is known as GROSS Motor skills and the other is FINE motor skills. These skills necessitate the coordination of the brain, nervous system and the body’s muscles. Gross motor skills are those defined as ”larger movements” such as running and jumping. These are movements that entail the use of the larger muscles in the feet, torso, legs and feet. On the other hand the fine motor skills are those that are needed to move small things. Here it may be fingers, toes, tongue and lips.
When a stroke, head/spinal injury, Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis or other upper or lower limb injuries or surgery takes place these fine or gross motor abilities will be severly curtailed or be limited in their usage.
After initial medical attention is given to the problem and a modicum of recovery has occurred physical rehabilitation is indicated to restore normal mobility in the affected limb. The TUTOR system of physical rehabilitation solutions for such issues has been adjudged to be one of the best methods for both children and adults. Using a unique ergonomic glove or a brace that is easy to attach these devices detect even slight motion when the limb is moved to ”play” a game on dedicated software. The information thus gleaned is recorded, documented and allows the physical/occupational therapist to customize the treatment session. The treatment software provides intensive exercises with augmented feedback leading to enhanced functional rehabilitation.
These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The 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 physical rehabilitation tools known as HANDTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, ARMTUTOR 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 their home. Home care patients can be supported by the occupational and physical therapist through the use of tele-rehabilitation. See www.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Post Knee Replacement Expectations Too High Unless…

Not much is known about the expectations of post knee replacement patients as to their sports, yoga or gardening achievements post surgery. A survey of 83 people was conducted pre surgery and then again one year later. The average time patients spent pre surgery on activities such as yard work, strength training and walking was about 2 hours per week. They hoped to increase that to 23 hours but in effect they only achieved 11 hours according to the Journal of Arthroplasty. Apparently the reason for this is because surgeons don’t normally discuss this aspect with the patient before hand. Patients are more eager to know whether they will have to use a walker, cane, golf or cycle post surgery. Patients don’t really know what to expect. They just want relief from the pain and want to be able to return to a full normal life. More education is being prepared to inform patients what to expect realistically both for day-to-day activities like bathing and grocery shopping and for exercise..
Doctors suggest that if patients want more than is expected they can be referred to rehabilitation or community-based exercise programs.
Post knee replacement surgery physical therapy has been enhanced through the use of the TUTOR devices. The recently developed physical rehabilitation products consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have been designed to afford the type of intensive exercises needed by patients who have had knee replacement surgery.
The LEGTUTOR has shown remarkable success in post knee replacement surgery. The LEGTUTOR™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity. Together with the 3DTUTOR the LEGTUTOR can be used to increase the patient’s proprioception performance with dedicated games being developed in the rehabilitation software for this outcome. The TUTOR system rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level including balance and proprioception training. This is achieved with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The exercises are designed in the form of challenging rehabilitation games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease. The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise task to their best ability and to continue exercise practice. Exercise practice is the most important manual therapy tool in the armory of physical and occupational therapists to ensure optimal rehabilitation.
The LEGTUTOR allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patients exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks.
The LEGTUTOR system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide for both neurological and orthopedic patients including adults and children. The TUTOR system holds FDA and CE certification. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Footdrop (Dropfoot) and its Treatment

“Dropfoot” or as it is sometimes called “Footdrop” is the inability to raise the front part of the foot sometimes dragging it along. Although it is not a disease in itself it emanates from any number of other physical issues ranging from injury to spine or leg muscle. The treatments range from accupuncture to surgery. Physicians around the world have suggested many different approaches.
One of the most effective physical rehabilitation solutions produced involves the use of the LEGTUTOR.
The LEGTUTOR system is a key component of physical therapy for dropfoot and other lower limb disabling medical issues. The LEGTUTOR physical rehabilitation product is an ergonomic wearable leg brace with dedicated rehabilitation software. The LEGTUTOR is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. This means that the LEGTUTOR system allows the physical therapist to prescribe a leg rehabilitation program customized to the patient’s foot,knee and hip movement ability at their stage of rehabilitation. The LEGTUTOR uses biofeedback to keep the patient motivated to do the exercise practice with those that were designed in the form of challenging games. They are suitable for a wide variety of other neurological and orthopedic injuries and diseases as well as post trauma and orthopedic surgery.
The LEGTUTOR is also used by physical and occupational therapists in combination with the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR for upper and lower extremity rehabilitation. The TUTOR system of rehabilitation products is used by many leading physical therapy centers worldwide and has full FDA and CE certification. It is designed for children and adults and can be used at home supported by telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Nervous System Ailments and Their Solutions

There are many conditions of the nervous system that can be helped by physical medicine and rehabilitation. These can include:
Functional disorders: Seizure disorder, dizziness, neuralgia or
Infections: Meningitis, encephalitis, polio or
Degenerative disorders: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s chorea, Alzheimer’s disease or
Structural, traumatic, or neuromuscular disorders: Brain, head, or spinal cord injury; brain or spinal cord tumors; peripheral neuropathy; muscular dystrophy; myasthenia gravis; Guillain-Barré syndrome or
Vascular disorders: Stroke, transient ischemic attack, subarachnoid hemorrhage.
A typical neurological rehabilitation program may include the following: assistance with activities of daily living, speech therapy, activities to improve control and muscle balance, an exercise program, gait and balance retraining, activities to improve cognitive impairments,
The TUTOR system is one of he newest physical rehabilitation solutions and has been developed to achieve a return to normal limb movement, when they are affected, for many of the above ailments. The TUTOR system has shown much success in rehabilitation of joint movement.
The newly developed physical rehabilitation product referred to as the TUTOR system consists of ergonomic wearable devices. The HANDTUTOR is a glove for hand therapy and the ARMTUTOR is an arm brace for elbow and shoulder rehabilitation. The LEGTUTOR is a leg brace for leg and hip. The system is indicated for patients who have suffered TBI, a stroke, SCI, CP, MS, Parkinson’s disease and other mobility restraining illnesses. It is used by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rehabilitation centers, private clinics and the home where it can be supported by telerehabilitation.
The system is designed for those who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction. The accompanying software system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. The dedicated rehabilitation software allows the physical and occupational therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient’s movement ability. In addition, the OT and PT can make objective follow up and reports on their patient’s progress. Rehabilitation aims to optimize the patient’s motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows the patient to better perform everyday functional tasks to improve their quality of life. The TUTORS are certified by the FDA and CE
See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Brachial Plexus Injuries and Their Recovery Possibilities

There is a group of nerves at the base of the neck called Brachial Plexus. It is responsible for conducting nerve signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand. When the Brachial Plexus is injured physical therapy exercises help heal damaged nerve fibers. Normal nerve function can usually be restored by a range of motion exercises.
It is important to diagnose the severity of damage. Signs of Brachial Plexus injury include weakness or numbness of the arm or hand, or sharp pains that may radiate down the arm. The severity of a Brachial Plexus injury may range from mild inflammation to a complete rupture of the nerve roots.A more extreme injury may leave the arm and shoulder completely paralyzed.For less severe cases, physical therapy may be the answer to healing the injury and regaining normal sensation and mobility.
Range of motion exercises are extremely important to healing the damaged nerves of brachial plexus. These therapeutic exercises facilitate nerve signaling and conduction, as well as promoting an increase in blood flow to the injury, allowing the damaged sites to heal faster. Exercises such as shoulder flexion, extension, and rotation are important to improve muscle function of the upper arm. Supination and pronation of the forearm and circumduction of the wrist is good for joint mobility.
Because of the nature of the cells that make up nerves, it may take some time to heal the injury. Nerve regeneration can take up to four months. It is important to practice patience during the healing time, and to remain active in the physical therapy program to restore optimal arm and hand function.
In the forefront of physical rehabilitation of the Brachial Plexus is the TUTOR system. As part of physical rehabilitation solutions these TUTOR products (HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) have shown remarkable progress in restoring normal movement ability to affected limbs.
Most of the therapy solutions now in use consist of an outside stimulus or force to cause movement of the affected limb. The TUTORS use a more natural system. The patient does the work not a machine or robot. The patient thus learns how to reuse his limb rather than relying or waiting for an independent stimulus. This system has a much preferred lasting effect and also challenges the patient to do more for himself. In addition the TUTORS do assisted active exercise by the PT or OT which is vastly less expensive than a robot. The OT or PT is also multi tasked and can assist the patient in intensive repetitive exercises.
The TUTOR system consists of ergonomic wearable devices together with powerful dedicated rehabilitation software and is indicated for patients who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction and are in rehabilitation centers, private clinics and the home where it can be supported by telerehabilitation.
The system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. Controlled exercise practice will help to prevent the development of compensatory movement patterns. The dedicated software allows the therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient’s movement ability. In addition the therapist can objectively and quantitatively evaluate and report on the treatment progress. The TUTOR system optimizes the patient’s motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows the patient to better perform everyday functional tasks to improve their quality of life. The TUTOR system is FDA and CE certified. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Communicating With Your Physical Therapist

Because a stroke or heart attack may temporarily cause a patient to become bedridden or their movements might be monitored and extremely limited the use of video conferencing technology, telerehabilitation, is designed to revolutionize treatment methods that are used to care for those with limited mobility.
American Telemed explains that telerehabilitation uses complex software in conjunction with video conferencing technology to allow doctors and physical/occupational therapists to interact with their immobile patients on a more regular basis. Travel may not be needed as all treatment is done remotely. It can also allow 24-hour access to a medical professional. In addition, the practicing physician can accurately measure a patient’s progress and discover problematic issues in real-time.
The National Institute of Health, conducted a recent study recently where sixty-five participants received a six-week program of outpatient physical therapy either according to the traditional in-house approach or by means of a teleconference-based rehabilitation program. The goal was to measure specific progress indicators such as the timed “up-and-go” test, quadriceps muscle strength and pain intensity.
The results revealed that the telerehabilitation group was able to achieve outcomes comparable to, or slightly better than those of the conventional rehabilitation group. The alternative treatment was also extremely well received by the included participants, who reported a high level of satisfaction.
The recently developed TUTOR system by MEDITOUCH is one of the most efficient physical rehabilitation devices using telerehabilitation as a means of treating patients with a variety of disabilities.
Established in 2004, MediTouch Ltd. manufactures innovative telerehabilitationsystems featuring the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR that consist of wearable motion capture devices that work together with an interactive games platform and software for virtual physical therapy sessions from home. MediTouch rehabilitation rehabilitation systems allow patients to practice intensive functional rehabilitation systems allow patients to practice intensive functional task training to improve patient‘s lower and upper extremity movement ability.
Currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and rehabilitation clinics the TUTOR devices are fully certified by the FDA and CE. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Traumatic Brain Injury and its Treatment Cost

Traumatic brain injuries are the cause of a substantial number of deaths and permanent disabilities. Some of them are seen. Others are not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that each year 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury; 52,000 people die while 275,000 are hospitalized. TBIs represent a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States. The numbers are rising fast, because we know more about sports injuries and because of our injured troops in wars. In March 2012, at a news conference about Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Pentagon put the number as high as 360,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who may have suffered brain injuries. Among them are up to 90,000 veterans whose symptoms still persist and require specialized care.
A TBI is caused by a blow, jolt, bump, or penetration to the head that disrupts normal functioning of the brain. The severity can range from ” a brief change in mental status” to ”extended unconsciousness” or amnesia after the injury. Even after “recovery” many survivors cannot return to what they used to do or find other work. The Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon calculated that a survivor of severe brain injury necessitates an expense of between $4.1 million and $9 million in lifetime care.
The TUTOR system of physical rehabilitation is one of the most COST EFFECTIVE medical devices to come on the market recently.
The HANDTUTOR, a glove, for hand therapy; the ARMTUTOR, an arm brace, for arm/shoulder therapy; the LEGTUTOR, a leg brace, and 3DTUTOR for leg/hip therapy are tools for intensive active exercises that have proven beneficial in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Intensive exercise practice has been proven to improve functional movement ability following orthopedic and neurological injury (including SCI and brain injury) as well as disease. Patient motivation and control of the exercise practice are the fundamental factors required for optimum functional recovery and prescribed by occupational and physical therapists. Traditional practice is mostly based on low technology tools that intrinsically lack features to challenge and motivate the patient to do intensive exercise training. This is why biofeedback and motion feedback are the tools of choice to give motivating and controlled manual therapy.
The TUTORs are currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics and are suitable for telerehabilitation.
See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Lack of Physical Rehabilitation Services on the African Continent

Imagine a CT scan costing a half month’s salary; an MRI costing a full month’s salary and an surgical procedure costing 52 month’s pay. Ridiculous? Well that’s what it can cost for those procedures in certain African countries. And then only if the equipment and technicians are available.
There are approximately 78 million disabled Africans who are unserved in Physical Medicine and rehabilitation services (PM&R). Mainly this is because there is inadequate manpower and equipment. Most of the health priorities of the African countries lie in issues such as Aids,TB, Malaria and ailments related to pregnancy and child birth.
The Red Cross says that policy reforms regarding the physically disabled are needed. They need help in accessing appropriate orthopaedic and rehabilitation services, an expert stated recently.
The chairperson of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Special Fund for the Disabled, Prof Claude Le Courte, raised the concern during the on-going 6th congress of the African Federation of Orthopaedic Technicians (FATO).
According to the statement, these reforms have to include changing the policies and delivery system, developing funding mechanisms, increasing human resources, expanding and decentralizing services and delivery, among others.
The World Report on Disability is recommending that all countries should develop a national strategy and/or policy for the delivery of adequate physical rehabilitation services.
She said the main problem facing people with disabilities in low income countries was the cost of rehabilitation services worsened by the cost of accessing the services. She therefore pledged ICRC’s full support to improve access to appropriate physical rehabilitation services for the disabled.
The WHO representative in Tanzania, Dr Rutaro Chatora, said besides the road carnage on Africa’s roads, the problem of disabilities on the continent has been worsened by many wars and civil strife in various countries.
According to a report, last year 43,000 people with disabilities from Africa attended and benefited from various services at ICRC-supported centers. They included provision of prostheses, orthoses, walking and wheelchairs, along with access to appropriate therapy allowing an optimal use of the devices.
One of the devices that can help in recovery of disabled limbs and which is non verbal and therefore usable by most of the African people is the TUTOR system. A relatively inexpensive device that can be purchased by the Red Cross or WHO and delivered to all the rehabilitation centers.
Occupational and physical therapists use the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR – known as the TUTOR system as a manual therapy tool to help them with their rehabilitative work.
The TUTOR system has shown much success in rehabilitation of joint movement. The newly developed TUTORs consist of ergonomic wearable devices. The HANDTUTOR is a glove for hand therapy and the ARMTUTOR is an arm brace for elbow and shoulder rehabilitation. The LEGTUTOR is a leg brace for legs and hips. The system is indicated for patients who have suffered TBI, a stroke, SCI, CP, MS, Parkinson’s disease and other mobility restraining illnesses. It is used by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rehabilitation centers, private clinics and private homes where it can be supported by telerehabilitation. It is designed for those who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction.
The accompanying software system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. The dedicated rehabilitation software allows the physical and occupational therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient’s movement ability. In addition, the OT and PT can make objective follow up and reports on their patient’s progress. Rehabilitation aims to optimize the patient’s motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows the patient to better perform everyday functional tasks to improve their quality of life.
The TUTORS are certified by the FDA and CE. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Telemedicine as a Solution for Post Stroke Physical Therapy

Whether it is called telerehabilitation, telemedicine, tele-physical therapy, tele-physiotherapy or tele-occupational therapy , these systems allow a therapist in a remote location to conduct treatment sessions, using a virtual-environment-based motor-training system, with a patient who is located at home. The system consists of a patient computer with motion-capture equipment and video camera, a therapist computer with video camera, and virtual-environment software that is synchronized over a high-speed Internet connection.
Home-based telerehabilitation interventions have show promising results in improving the health of stroke patients and in supporting caregivers. Telemedicine systems based on a virtual environment for upper extremity exercise can improve the physical health of stroke patients. Health professionals and participants reported high levels of satisfaction and acceptance of telerehabilitation interventions., During performance, the patient can see not only their movement but also the correct trajectory that they have to accomplish. The feedback derived from the patient’s action, its outcome, and feedback from the supervision of the physiotherapist can favour the acquisition of new motor abilities by the patient.
The TUTOR system of telerehabilitation is at the forefront of this recent innovation. Users are those patients who have suffered a stroke or other limb limiting injuries or disease and are not required to be hospitalized any longer or who need continuing therapy sessions and live too far away from clinics. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have an impairment based rehabilitation program with powerful software and augmented feedback that encourages motor learning. The TUTOR s are medical devices that are part of the entire physical rehabilitation solution industry. These products have been created to allow the therapist, whether right there with the patient or at a remote location, to evaluate and objectively quantify and record the patient’s sessions. This allows for customization of the treatment program. The TUTOR process combined with traditional functional exercises speeds up functional recovery.
Now in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals the TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE., For more information go to WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL

Cognitive Impairment Solutions

On March 21, 2012 J. Andrew McClure, MSc etal from the Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Hospital , London, Ontario, Canada published a study as follows:
The Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care suggests that all stroke patients should be screened for cognitive impairment and those who have such impairment as shown on a screening test should receive additional assessment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether care in an Ontario inpatient stroke rehabilitation facility is consistent with these recommendations. The study included 123 patients. The conclusions that were reached were that although the majority of patients were screened for cognitive impairment while in inpatient rehabilitation, few patients were referred for a comprehensive diagnostic examination. Therefore it appears that specific cognitive deficits are likely underidentified in stroke rehabilitation patients in Ontario.
Since rehabilitation aims to optimize motor, sensory and cognitive performance so that the patient can perform everyday functional tasks and therefore improve his daily quality of life it is important that a tool be found to do so for stroke victims and those who suffer from other forms of debilitating illnesses and injuries.
One of the newest physical therapy solutions is the TUTOR system. Consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR these products improve daily living impairments through the use of intensive active exercises with augmented feedback. The exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training to be tailored to the patient’s performance. The HANDTUTOR, for example, includes objective quantitative evaluations that provide a thorough documentation of patient performance and thereby allows the physical and occupational therapist to customize an apprppriate rehabilitation program for the patient.
Currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics the TUTOR system is FDA and CE certified.
See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Hi Tech Systems Available for Everyone

People that have disabilities are a group within society that could gain much from all the new technologies but somehow they have one of the lowest rates of usage of these technologies. Therefore benefits of using a computer and the internet are underused at best.
Actually one of the reasons for this phenomenon is that a large percentage of these disabled people are poor and therefore don’t have access to this equipment or its monthly maintenance charges. Unfortunately these people don’t understand how the internet and computers can give them a greater sense of independence and would allow them to integrate into society.
Some Internet service providers have come up with a solution and will provide a free computer for those that sign up for a long term subscription. In addition there are simpler user interfaces that are available to allow more comfortable usage of the technology. This is especially helpful to some elderly people. Of course a period of educating this segment of society to the possibilities is necessary before many of them begin to take advantage of the technology. Once that’s accomplished there will have to be training and support afforded to them.
Those that are disabled due to a stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease,upper or lower limb surgery and other disabling illnesses or injuries will find much needed help in one of the newest physical rehabilitation solutions available. The TUTOR system consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR,LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are part of physical rehabilitation solutions that are now available. Relatively inexpensive the TUTOR system allows for intensive exercises through the use of dedicated and customized software. The HANDTUTOR which is an ergonomic glove and the LEGTUTOR and ARMTUTOR which are braces detect finger, wrist, leg, ankle and hip movements. This information is recorded and allows the therapist to fully customize the treatment session. The exercises thus provide augmented feedback which then leads to enhanced functional rehabilitation. These physical rehabilitation products are in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics. The TUTOR system can also be used by the patient from his own home through the use of telerehabiliation. See See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM and WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Hi Tech Systems Available for Everyone

People that have disabilities are a group within society that could gain much from all the new technologies but somehow they have one of the lowest rates of usage of these technologies. Therefore benefits of using a computer and the internet are underused at best.
Actually one of the reasons for this phenomenon is that a large percentage of these disabled people are poor and therefore don’t have access to this equipment or its monthly maintenance charges. Unfortunately these people don’t understand how the internet and computers can give them a greater sense of independence and would allow them to integrate into society.
Some Internet service providers have come up with a solution and will provide a free computer for those that sign up for a long term subscription. In addition there are simpler user interfaces that are available to allow more comfortable usage of the technology. This is especially helpful to some elderly people. Of course a period of educating this segment of society to the possibilities is necessary before many of them begin to take advantage of the technology. Once that’s accomplished there will have to be training and support afforded to them.
Those that are disabled due to a stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease,upper or lower limb surgery and other disabling illnesses or injuries will find much needed help in one of the newest physical rehabilitation solutions available. The TUTOR system consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR,LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are part of physical rehabilitation solutions that are now available. Relatively inexpensive the TUTOR system allows for intensive exercises through the use of dedicated and customized software. The HANDTUTOR which is an ergonomic glove and the LEGTUTOR and ARMTUTOR which are braces detect finger, wrist, leg, ankle and hip movements. This information is recorded and allows the therapist to fully customize the treatment session. The exercises thus provide augmented feedback which then leads to enhanced functional rehabilitation. These physical rehabilitation products are in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics. The TUTOR system can also be used by the patient from his own home through the use of telerehabiliation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.