HandTutor, ArmTutor system improves functional movement outcomes

In the April edition of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) http://bit.ly/iiSMgj Dr. Smitherman and his group from Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, 701 Grove Road, USA investigated the functional outcomes, following single-event multilevel surgery of the upper extremity in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The group found that children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy showed significantly improved dynamic segmental alignment and, to a lesser degree, spontaneous use of the upper extremity following single-event multilevel surgery compared with a comparable nonoperative control group. However, the grasp-release ability did not significantly improve in either the operative or nonoperative group.
The HandTutor and ArmTutor system is used to train patients through intensive exercise practice to use their impaired arms and hands and improve their functional movement ability.

In the March issue of Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation http://bit.ly/h03MW7 Dr. Gregory and his team from Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA compare patient preferences for Stroke Rehabilitation. The group conclude that patients prefer the initial rehabilitation therapy setting to be at home. Providers should inquire about patient preference and provide information about treatment options to help inform decision making.
The group also state that early aggressive rehabilitation therapies maximize functional recovery.
The HandTutor, ArmTutor and LegTutor systems provide the patient with user friendly upper and lower extremity dedicated rehabilitation devices that allow for intensive exercise practice and maximize functional recovery both in acute, sub acute, outpatient and home care settings.