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