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.