Tutors Used to Speed Recovery of SCI Patients During Therapy

The SIERRRA SUN on January 9, 2012 reports about Jake Hickman who was on top of the world, still relishing two of the best performances of his life as he skied through a training run on Day 3 of the U.S. Freestyle Selections in Colorado.
However, the next moment, the 17-year-old Squaw Valley Freestyle Team standout was sprawled on the snow with no feeling from his belly button down. He could not move his right leg, and felt a tingling sensation in his left leg.
It was a freak accident, explained his father, Eric, who scurried to his son’s side.
He caught his tip and got thrown backwards a little bit,” said Eric Hickman, recalling the Dec. 23 accident. “He was going to land on his neck and he decided that that wasn’t a good idea, so he threw a loop and landed on his back instead. It was a good decision on his part, otherwise it could have been a lot worse.”
Jake was secured to a backboard and rushed to a local hospital. Then he was flown to Denver Health Medical Center where he underwent an eight hour surgery to repair the T7-T8 spinal cord injury. His father said he suffered a compression fracture and dislocation of the vertebrae, causing a pinch to the spinal cord. 10 screws and two 16-centimeter rods were placed into his back.
For that Jake feels fortunate. He and his family are also relieved that he seems well on the road to recovery, even walking with assistance about four or five days after the accident.
“He’s able to stand and walk, just barely, holding on to us. So things are looking pretty good.” says his mother.
On Tuesday he was transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver, which specializes in spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation and research. Jake had a chance to discuss his injury briefly between rounds of testing and medication.
“I’m getting better, I’m working on it. But it’s definitely pretty hard”, Jake says.
Spinal Cord Injury is one of many disabilities that are vastly improved by the use of the TUTOR system.
Occupational therapists use the HANDTUTOR,ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR – known as the TUTOR system as a manual therapy tool to help them with their rehabilitative work.
The TUTOR system has shown much success in rehabilitation of joint movement. The newly developed TUTORs consist of ergonomic wearable devices. The HANDTUTOR is a glove for hand therapy and the ARMTUTOR is an arm brace for elbow and shoulder rehabilitation. The system is indicated for patients who have suffered a stroke, head/brain injury, SCI, CP, MS, Parkinson’s disease and other mobility restraining illnesses. It is used by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rehabilitation centers, private clinics and the home where it can be supported by telerehabilitation. It is designed for those who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction.
The system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. The dedicated rehabilitation software allows the physical and occupational therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient’s movement ability. In addition the OT and PT can make objective follow up and reports on their patients progress. Rehabilitation aims to optimizes the patient’s motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows the patient to better perform everyday functional tasks to improve their quality of life. The TUTORs are certified by the FDA and CE See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

Children Benefit from the Tutor System in Physical Therapy

The following explanations are explained via the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Hemiparesis is experienced by one of three children with cerebral palsy (CP). This is the impairment affecting one side of the body. Hemiparesis is also found among children who experience childhood strokes, traumatic brain injuries and other central nervous system conditions.
In about 1.5 per 1000 live births there may be neonatal Brachial Plexus injury (BPI) caused by the birth or traumatic injury to the brachial plexus (which is an injury of the peripheral nervous system). Similar to children with hemiparesis, these children often have poor functioning of one arm while the other arm is usually normal.
Children with impaired functioning of one of their arms can have disabling symptoms affecting play, school, and self-care. Hand and arm functioning may be affected by abnormal muscle tone and flexion synergies, decreased strength, decreased active and passive range of motion, altered sensation, and neglect . Also, children with hemiplegia due to central nervous system damage are often affected by mirror movements–unconscious and uncontrolled movement of one hand following the same pattern as the contralateral hand—impacting the ability to use two hands when the hands are required to do different movements (for example, one hand stabilizes an object while the other acts on the object).
Current theory suggests that children with unilateral upper extremity impairment must overcome “developmental non-use”, a term which indicates that the children never have used the impaired upper extremity. Another term frequently used is “learned non-use”, this refers to hemiplegia in an individual who previously had functional use of the arm
Traditionally, children with hemiplegia or brachial plexus injury receive physical therapy and occupational therapy services to maximize their functional skills. Conventional treatment approaches focus on a mix of biomechanical, developmental, neurodevelopmental, and rehabilitative (including compensatory) models.
If the child is at least around the age of 4 or 5 the recently developed TUTOR system can be of great assistance in physical therapy.
The HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical and occupational therapy for children as well as adults. These innovative devices implement an impairment based exercise program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. Manual therapy is the provision of exercise practice by an occupational and physical therapist. As the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR allow the PT and OT to customize the exercises, the patient is given motivating tasks through computer games with biofeedback that give them the correct dose of manual therapy. This means that the CP, Parkinson’s, stroke, or TBI patient is given exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. Even patients with severe movement dysfunction can benefit from intensive exercise practice as the TUTOR system picks up even small angles of joint movement. The TUTOR system also allows the OT and PT to make objective reports and evaluations on the patient’s movement ability so his progress can be maintained and shown to both himself and his family. This is also a strong motivation to carry on training and improve movement and functional everyday living ability. The HANDTUTOR and ARMTUTOR are a major part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals. The TUTORS are also used in clinics and at home care supported by telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

ArmTutor Takes Over Physical Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients

As reported in the ”Misoulian” January 2012. Scott Douglas, founding director of the University of Montana’s Entertainment Management program, suffered a severe stroke over a year ago. In addition, he developed Broca’s Aphasia. He is receiving intensive therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, acupuncture and many other types of treatment. Soon he will be able to work on getting back his normal movement ability in his affected right arm and when he does the ARMTUTOR will be of substantial help.
The ARMTUTOR system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist or upper extremity. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable arm brace and dedicated physical rehabilitation software. The ARMTUTOR system allows for interactive rehabilitation exercise and a range of biomechanical evaluations including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the upper extremity. This quantitative data allows Physical and occupational therapists (OT) (PT) to customize the right exercise parameters to the patients movement ability and report on the patients exercise progress. The ARMTUTOR rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled and repetitive exercise rehabilitation practice through the use of various games which are at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The rehabilitation games are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease.
The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise at a customized difficulty level. This level is set by the occupational or physical therapist and encourages the patient to do intensive repetitive exercise practice.
The ARMTUTOR allows for isolated and a combination of elbow and three directional shoulder treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patients exercise performance. Overall, controlled exercise of multijoints within a normal movement pattern will prevent the patient developing an undesired and compensatory joint performance of functional tasks.
The Arm Tutor and its sister devices (LEGTUTOR, HANDTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) are used wordwide in hospitals and clinics. They can also be used at home through telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

Injured Libyan Rebels Can Benefit From Tutor System

Spaulding Hospital in the Boston area of the U.S. has been treating 22 Libyan rebels for their injuries suffered in the recent rebellion against the late dictator Muammar Gadafi. Their injuries, most of which were the result of gunshot wounds, affected the use of their hands, arms, shoulders and legs. Spaulding hospital was chosen by the U.S. government to treat the former rebels and the bill was paid by the transitional government of Libya.
Rebel or not the best physical rehabilitation treatment for injuries and surgeries of upper and lower limbs is the TUTOR system.
The ARMTUTOR and HANDTUTOR have been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and wrist. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable glove and arm brace together with dedicated rehabilitation software. The ARMTUTOR and HANDTUTOR allows the physical and occupational therapist to report on and evaluate the patients functional rehabilitation progress. This allows the OT and PT to prescribe the right customized and motivating exercise practice which is the cornerstone to manual rehabilitation therapy. Intensive repetition of movement is achieved through challenging games set to the patient’s movement ability. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s performance. 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.
The LEGTUTOR™ has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity including the hip and knee. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable leg brace and dedicated rehabilitation software. The LEGTUTOR™ rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. This allows the physical therapist to set the exercise practice, performed through customized rehabilitation games, to the patient’s movement ability. Patients who are post knee or hip surgery or who have had lower limb surgeries must do isolated repetitive knee flexion and extension exercises both in the lying, sitting and standing position to strengthen their knee or leg. Having the exercises in the form of a customized rehabilitation game motivates the patient to perform repetitive movement practice which is the mainstay of a physical therapist’s manual exercise technique. In addition, the LEGTUTOR™ system allows for a range of biomechanical evaluations including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the lower extremity. This evaluation allows the physical therapist to report on the patient’s movement performance and shows the patient the improvements that they are making.
Telerehabilitation allows the recovering patient to continue his physical therapy at home. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

The Tutor System–Known for its Importance in Movement Disorders

WASHINGTON D.C (Ivanhoe Newswire)October 2011 –72 million Americans are affected by movement disorders. Now, a lab is helping doctors learn how to treat these disorders. New technologies are allowing some patients to get the treatment they need.
Chris Tisch was born 17 weeks early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
“When I first saw him, his whole body was affected. He couldn’t stand up…could barely sit,” Katharine Alter, M.D., Medical director of Gait Lab National Institutes of Health told Ivanhoe.
Now, thanks in part to therapy he received at this NIH lab, Chris can walk on both legs and even hop .
Today, Chris is testing out a new gait analysis system. Ten infrared cameras record each step he makes and computer software creates a 3D image that tells doctors how his muscles move and recommends what treatments could help him.
A second technology, which is a balance testing system, is used for people with any type of movement disorder — emanating from stroke, Parkinson’s, MS and brain tumor patients. It helps doctors evaluate patients’ steadiness when they stand.
A robotic remote arm is being developed to help physical therapists treat people in faraway locations while doctors in the lab analyze movement.
Another device, an ultrasound machine, measures the thickness of muscles to show doctors if therapy has helped the patient improve.
The lab really measures human movement, whether it’s balance or walking or just general motion.
The National Institutes of Health Lab will soon be collaborating with the Department of Defense to study soldiers with traumatic brain injuries who have issues with balance and coordination. They will follow patients for about five years, looking for ways to help them improve.
The TUTOR system is one of the outstanding new set of devices created to improve movement disorders.
The TUTOR system, consisting of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the whole body including the upper and lower extremity. The TUTORS consist of ergonomic wearable braces and include dedicated rehabilitation software that provide patient instructions and feedback to encourage intensive controlled exercise practice. The HANDTUTOR is used to give hand therapy to patients with SCI, Parkinson’s disease, CP, MS, stroke, Radial/Ulnar nerve and Brachial Plexus injuries. Hand, arm and leg surgery rehabilitation are also assisted by the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR.
The TUTOR system allows for controlled exercise of multijoints within the normal movement pattern which prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement. This is especially important to ensure that brain and spinal cord injury patients learn to better perform functional tasks.
The new TUTOR system is a medical, physical and occupational therapy rehabilitation device that is used by children as well as adults and through the use of telerehabilitation. They are FDA and CE certified. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

The Tutor System Augments Pain Medication For SCI Patients

Relief from chronic pain is a major priority for the 1,000,000 US residents that suffer from spinal cord injury (SCI). Ching-Yi Lin, PhD, Department of Neurosciences in Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, is the lead and corresponding author of a new study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, showing that a single injection of fibronectin, a naturally occurring protein, leads to an inhibition of chronic SCI pain for over eight months in an experimental model. This is a collaborative project between Dr. Lin and Yu-Shang Lee, PhD, Department of Neurosciences; Vernon Lin, MD, PhD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic; and Jerry Silver, PhD, Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University.
Fibronectin is known to support the survival and growth of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. These researchers discovered, through the use of fibronectin fragments and competitive inhibitors, that the pain-curbing results depended upon a short, 8-amino acid segment of fibronectin, which activated specific cellular signaling pathways.
It is known that spinal cord injury increases the permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier, causing secondary pathogenesis and chronic pain due to exposure of the spinal cord to inflammatory cells. Results show that fibronectin not only maintained the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier, but also suppressed the inflammatory response. Researchers found that fibronectin reversed spinal cord injury-induced decreases in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in pain perception.
The dose and timing of Fibronectin can augment the functional gain of physiotherapy.The TUTORS have been in the forefront of rehabilitation therapy for spinal cord injury.
The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system 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 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 patients ability to move their limb. The devices then measure the limb movement and give feedback on the success of the patient’s objective. In this way the patient can understand which effort is more successful in allowing them to move their affected limb again. The TUTOR system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice.
The HANDTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.

MS Physical Therapy Includes the Tutor System

TAMPA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting the brain and nervous system, causing nerve impulses to be slowed or stopped for approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. today. Patients are travelling hundreds, even thousands of miles, for a controversial treatment that’s only performed by a few doctors in the U.S.
A year ago, 48-year-old Barbara Garcia couldn’t get across the room without a walker or wheelchair. Multiple sclerosis was taking its toll both physically and mentally.
Tests showed Barbara had a narrowing in the jugular veins that some say is associated with MS. When Doctor Bulent Arslan saw her tests, he agreed to do an experimental MS procedure called venoplasty for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI. In the procedure dye is injected into the jugular veins to locate the narrowed area. Then, similar to an angioplasty, a balloon’s inserted into the vein and inflated to improve blood flow from the brain toward the heart.
“We do that until we get enough improvement so that blood flow is not restricted. Barbara started showing improvement right on the table”, said Bulent Arslan, M.D., an associate professor of radiology at the University of South Florida.He is also an associate member of the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute .
He wanted to see her walk and sure enough, she was able to get up and walk around the bed.
Now, Barbara can do a lot more than that, like take care of her granddaughter, even vacation in Spain. But some doctors still believe the short- and long-term benefits of balloon venoplasty are being blown out of proportion.
Bruce Zwiebel, M.D., an interventional radiologist at Tampa General Hospital said “We need to make sure this procedure works, make sure it’s durable, find out more about it,”.
Barbara is happy enough that she is free of a walker or wheelchair .
Barbara’s case was the first of 120 of these procedures for Doctor Arslan. He says that Venoplasty is not a cure, but 70 to 80 percent of his MS patients whose tests confirm CCSVI show improvement following treatment. To date more than two-million dollars has been committed to study the procedure in the U.S. and Canada.
The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical and occupational therapy for MS patients. These innovative devices implement an impairment based exercise program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises.
Manual therapy is the provision of exercise practice by an occupational and physical therapist. As the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR allow the PT and OT to customize the exercises, the patient is given motivating tasks through computer games with biofeedback that give them the correct dose of manual therapy. This means that the MS, Parkinson’s, stroke, CP or TBI patient is given exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. Even patients with severe movement dysfunction can benefit from intensive exercise practice as the TUTOR system picks up even small angles of joint movement.
The TUTOR system also allows the OT and PT to make objective reports and evaluations on the patient’s movement ability so his progress can be maintained and shown to both himself and his family. This is also a strong motivation to carry on training and improve movement and functional everyday living ability. The HANDTUTOR and ARMTUTOR are a major part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals. The TUTORS are also used in clinics and at home care supported by telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.