Meaningful Task-Specific Training (MTST) Works With Stroke Rehabilitation

K.N. Arya etal of the Department of Neurology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, India in a study published in Top Stroke Rehabilitation in the May/June 2012 edition discuss the following study they conducted. One of the functional challenges in post stroke patients is the upper extremity motor deficit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of the ”meaningful task-specific training” (MTST) on upper extremity motor recovery during the subacute phase after a patient suffers a stroke. The study was conducted as a randomized, controlled and double-blinded trial in the neurology department of a university hospital and occupational therapy unit of a rehabilitation facility. A sample of 103 people post stroke, was randomized into 2 groups (the MTST group had 51 participants and the standard training group had 52). Ninety-five of the participants completed the 8-week follow-up program. Participants were assigned to receive either the MTST or dose-matched standard training program based on the Brunnstrom stage and Bobath neurodevelopmental technique, 4 to 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The results showed a positive improvement in the scores of the MTST group at post and follow-up assessments in comparison to the control group. In addition, statistically significant differences were observed in changes between the groups at post and follow-up assessment for FMA, ARAT, GWMFT, and MAL. The conclusion drawn was that the MTST group produced statistically significant results as well as clinically relevant improvements in the upper extremity motor recovery of the patients who had had a subacute stroke. When providing physical therapy solutions for upper extremity movement disorders the ARMTUTOR is one of the leading and most cost effective products available. The ARMTUTOR™ has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and wrist. The system consists of an ergonomic arm brace together with dedicated rehabilitation software. The ARMTUTOR™ system and its sister devices (HANDTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) allows the physical and occupational therapist to report on and evaluate the patient’s functional rehabilitation progress and then to prescribe the correct customized and motivating intensive exercise practice to the manual rehabilitation therapy. Intensive repetition of movement is achieved through challenging games set to the patient’s ability. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s efforts. Controlled exercise of multijoints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks. Telerehabilitation allows the recovering patient to continue his physical therapy at home. The system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide and has full FDA and CE certification. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.