Acquired Brain Injury–What is it and What Can Be Done?

Many people suffer from brain injury which usually is caused by a traumatic event such as an accident or fall. However there is also what is called Acquired Brain Injury which can be a result of a stroke, tumor or infectious disease. It was announced on July 10 that in London a campaign has begun by the United Kingdom Brain Injury Forum (UKBIF) that will highlight the need for easier and earlier access to rehabilitation for ABI patients. The aim of the campaign is to improve existing services and to do more for these unfortunate individuals. It is known that the effects of ABI include physical, emotional, sensory and cognitive problems. Also that the effects can be temporary, permanent, light or severe. Sometimes the disabilities are not obvious. Results may include relationship breakdowns, loss of employment and change of personality. In the UK alone approximately 150,000 people per year have some kind of brain injury and the costs for ABI care was more than 1 billion pounds Sterling just in hospital costs in 2007. Community care and rehabilitation cost another 4 billion pounds. One factor that is known about brain injury is that early rehabilitation may help to reduce length of hospital stays. Because of these facts it is important that all costs for future care are available and that the highest standard of care and rehabilitation be administered. One of the latest physical therapy solutions is the TUTOR system. It is very cost effective and therefore can keep the costs of rehabilitation down while affording the patient the best of care. The TUTORs which include the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are ergonomically designed gloves and braces that are strategically placed on the affected part of the body and then through exclusive software the patient can exercise his affected limb. Physical and occupational therapists monitor this activity and record and evaluate the patient’s progress and then design a custom made exercise program for the patient at his ability level. The TUTORs are available for adults as well as children, are fully certified by the FDA and CE and can be used at home through the use of telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.