The Connection Between MS and Vitamin D

Researchers conducted a study that appeared in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and published by the Jerusalem Post on December 23, 2012 in which they suggest that pregnant women take vitamin D supplements to ward of  MS, as not enough of the vitamin is produced in the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It has been a known fact that  MS can be contracted by people living in countries with little sunlight. The risk of developing MS is highest during April and lowest during October according to available analysis.

The researchers compared previously published data on almost 152,000 people with MS with expected birth rates for the disease in a bid to find out if there was any link between country of birth and risk of developing MS. At latitudes greater than 52 degrees from the equator, insufficient ultraviolet light of the correct wave length reaches the skin between October and March to enable the body to manufacture enough vitamin D during the winter months.

There was a significant increase in risk among those born in April and May and a significant lower risk among those born in October and November. The studies were only conducted in the northern hemisphere and that should be considered in this analysis.

The researchers state that through combining existing datasets for month of birth and subsequent MS risk, this study provides the strongest evidence to date that the month of birth effect is a genuine one. This supports previous hypotheses and adds weight to the argument for early intervention studies that recommended supplementing the diet with vitamin D to prevent MS.

When MS, nevertheless, develops its limb disabling symptoms the most effective physical therapy solution should be used. Such a solution can be found in the TUTOR system of physical therapy products.

 The recently developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation for stroke victims and those recovering from MS,brain and spinal injuries, Parkinson’s, 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 TUTORs 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 is given movement feedback that allows the patient to understand which effort is more successful in moving their affected limb again. The Tutor system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive and intensive exercise practice.

The Tutor system is now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Is Knee Surgery Really Needed?

The web is full of articles about knee surgery and how more and more people are opting for this painful solution to osteoarthritis. However a study recently concluded that there may be a way to avoid such an operation completely.

A study  was conducted in a large military hospital in Texas recently indicating that physical therapy consisting of manual therapy, stretching and strengthening as an exercise regimen may help people with osteoarthritis of the knee avoid a knee joint replacement surgery.

During the study, 83 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to two groups.The first group of 42 patients  received treatment consisting of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise twice a week for four weeks.The second group of 41 patients  received a placebo treatment where they received ultrasound in a dosage far below a therapeutic level.  The mean age of the partipants was 60 and 62 years respectively.

Results were measured at four weeks, eight weeks, and one year post-treatment. The study reports that “Clinically and statistically significant improvements  were observed in the treatment group but not in the placebo group”.

The study also reports that “the average distance walked  in the treatment group was 170 more than that in the placebo group. At one year, patients in the treatment group had clinically and statistically significant gains over baseline in walking distance. While 20 percent of patients in the placebo group had undergone knee arthroplasty, only 5 percent of patients in the treatment group had.”

The study concluded with a statement saying “In patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, a combination of manual physical therapy and stretching, range-of-motion, and strengthening exercises may yield improvements in functional ability as well as in subjective measures of pain, stiffness, and function and may delay or prevent the need for surgical intervention. These improvements may persist well after the conclusion of clinical treatment.”

When physical exercise is indicated for a problematic knee due to osteoarthritis one of the most effective physical therapy solutions is the LEGTUTOR. The LEGTUTOR consists of a safe comfortable leg brace with position sensors that precisely record three dimensional (3D) hip and knee movements.The LEGTUTOR has a range of motion limiter that can limit the dynamic range of knee extension and flexion. Rehabilitation games allow the patient to exercise Range of Motion (ROM), speed and accuracy of movement. The LEGTUTOR facilitates evaluation and treatment of the lower extremity including isolated and combined hip and knee movements.

The LEGTUTOR and its sister physical therapy products (HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) are one of the most cost effective medical devices available for what it accomplishes. Currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics the TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE and can be used by children as well as adults. They are also available for use in the patient’s home via telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

How Much Salt to Add to Your Food

As published on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in the journal STROKE, Dr. Francesco P. Cappuccio, of the University of Warwick in the UK stated that older adults with salty diets may have an increased risk of suffering a stroke.

The results were in a study of 2,700 older, mostly minority adults. They  got well above the recommended sodium intake and were nearly three times as likely to suffer a stroke over 10 years as people who met guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA).

 As people’s sodium intake goes up, their blood pressure will  likely  increase as well.

What is not as clear, though, is whether a salty diet may  mean higher risks of heart attack and stroke later on.

Unlike blood pressure, which can change quickly, stroke and heart disease are more long-range complications. So a study of the relationship between people’s sodium intake and their risk of heart problems and stroke is more difficult.

At this time, the AHA suggests that people not consume more than 1,500 milligrams a day.  The World Health Organization advises a limit of 2,000 milligrams.

The people in this study — mainly black and Hispanic New Yorkers —  consumed 3,031 milligrams of sodium per day.

The findings are based on 2,657 adults who were interviewed about their health and lifestyle and then completed dietary questionnaires. They were 69 years old, on average, when the study began.

During the next 10 years, there were 235 strokes in the group. Those that downed  4,000 or more milligrams of sodium each day were almost three times more likely to suffer a stroke as those who kept their daily sodium below 1,500 milligrams.

Among the 558 people consumed more than  4,000 milligrams per day, there were 66 strokes.

That compared with 24 strokes among the 320 people who kept within the AHA guideline.

Hannah Gardener, a researcher at the University of Miami School of Medicine who led the study said “We can’t definitively draw conclusions about cause-and-effect .

There can be a number of other factors to take into consideration in addition to salt intake. As an example

 smoking habits, exercise levels, education and health conditions  like diabetes and high blood pressure need to be taken in to consideration.

Although few Americans adhere to the AHA guidelines they should be followed according to Gardener.

Interestingly, it’s estimated that the typical U.S. man takes in 4,000 milligrams of sodium a day, while women typically ingest 2,800 milligrams.

 Salt is pervasive in the food supply — from canned soups and sauces, to breads and cereals, to processed meats — and it can be challenging to cut down. Americans receive almost 80 percent of their sodium from  prepared foods on supermarket shelves and in restaurants, rather than at home.

Gardener further states that it is important to read product labels to know beforehand how much sodium there is in the product.

 Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as much as possible will also alleviate the problem.

The researchers suggest that responsibility should also rest on  government regulations and the food industry.

In England, the government has begun to regulate the processed food industry.  New York City has instituted the National Salt Reduction Initiative. This move tries to coordinate local and state governments and health groups to work with the food industry to cut sodium in packaged foods and restaurants.

Heinz, Kraft Foods and Starbucks, have already signed on to meet  salt targets.

Unfortunately, at this time and age people still take in too much sodium so strokes will still occur. When they do and the initial medical treatment is completed it behooves doctors and other medical staff and facilities  to supply the best physical therapy solutions available to treat any paralysis that may exist as a result of the stroke. Such physical therapy products are the TUTOR system.

 Rehabilitation using the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR is instituted in the USA at major  in-patient and out-patient clinics as well as at private physical therapy clinics. Many patients including stroke victims  can  also avail themselves of the  TUTOR system through the use of tele rehabilitation when they are at home or in a location far from a qualified rehabilitation center. The TUTOR products have been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the whole body including the upper and lower extremity. The system consists of ergonomic wearable devices and dedicated rehabilitation software that provide patient instructions and feedback to encourage intensive  controlled exercise practice.  The TUTOR system  exercises  multijoints within the normal movement pattern which prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement. It therefore ensures better performance of functional tasks. This is important in stroke, brain, spinal cord (SCI) and Cerebral Palsy rehabilitation in addition to other neurological and orthopedic injury and disease.  Additional features of the TUTOR system include quantitative evaluation and objective follow up that is important in the physiotherapists treatment of the stroke patient. The TUTORS are FDA and CE certified and   are available for children as well as adults.  See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more imformation.

What to Expect From Stroke Rehabilitation.

Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School and gives the following advice

Rehabilitation helps return abilities impaired by a stroke. How much progress one makes and how quickly it occurs will depend on how severe the stroke was and the part of the brain that was affected.

Strokes can affect muscle strength, senses (like pain), one’s ability to speak and to understand speech, vision, emotions, thinking and level of consciousness. Some people only suffer mild unilateral weakness with nothing else wrong. Other people lie in a coma.

New techniques have been learned in recent years that sometimes lead to recovery that at one time were not possible.

Rehabilitation may occur in the hospital, a rehab facility or at home. One or more specialists may be involved. These may include a physiatrist, rehab nurse, physical or occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist or a recreational therapist.

The strategies used will depend on the patient’s goals for therapy. Some common goals include rebuilding strength, relearning to walk, improving speech and recovering memory. On the other hand rehab can also help a person adapt to a permanent disability, if necessary.

Physical rehab may include walking up or down stairs, walking on a treadmill and using hand or leg weights. Even if the patient can’t bear weight on his legs exercise may still be possible. This may have to be done while partially supported by a harness. Many patients exercise in a swimming pool, where water can support some of the weight.

The therapist may also stimulate natural movements in the arms and legs. This can help restore neurological pathways at the same time as it strengthens muscles and improves circulation.

Regaining skills for regular everyday living is another important goal. The patient will learn practical techniques to make washing, dressing, driving and other routine activities more manageable.

The therapist may teach speech and language skills and may include exercises to improve comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. It may also help restore the ability to swallow safely which is often impaired by a stroke.

Then there is cognitive rehab that teaches strategies to compensate for problems with learning, memory, and awareness.

Rehab usually takes time and hard work. patients sometimes get discouraged but rehab can make the crucial difference between regaining previous ability to function or remaining impaired.

Some patients make little progress after a month of work, every day, with rehabilitation therapy. Then, they suddenly seem to make considerable progress. They should not give up. Stroke rehab really can make a difference.

Finding and using the best physical therapy solutions often includes products like the TUTOR system. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have been developed to assist in exercising stroke affected limbs.

The TUTORs have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy for interactive rehabilitation exercise. These innovative devices implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The training is customized by the occupational and physical therapist to ensure that the patient stays motivated to do intensive repetitive manual therapy and exercise practice. The TUTORs are now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and European hospitals with the TUTORs being used in clinics and in the patient’s home. Home care patients can be supported by the occupational and physical therapist offering tele-rehabilitation. The TUTORs are fully certified by the FDA and CE. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

What Exactly is a Brain Concussion and What Treatment is Helpful?

There are so  many occurrences of brain concussion especially amongst young athletes that it behooves everyone, especially those involved in sports, to be aware of what happens, how to prevent it and what the treatments are for it.

What is concussion and what causes concussion?

What is referred to as ”mild traumatic brain injury” or concussion, can be defined as a temporary loss of brain function due to a trauma to the head.  With concussion, function may be interrupted but there is no structural damage to the brain.

The brain ”floats” in cerebrospinal fluid and is encased in the skull. These protections allow it to withstand many minor injuries that occur daily. However, if  there is sufficient force that causes the brain to bounce against the  bones of the skull, then there is potential for injury. It is the movement of the brain against the inside of the skull that can cause the brain to be irritated and thereby interrupt its function. This movement can come from a direct blow to the head or face, and also from other body trauma that can cause the head to shake. Temporary loss of consciousness due to the injury probably means that a concussion has taken place however there are  concussions  that occur without the patient being knocked out. To be sure there are studies of football players where the majority aren’t even aware that they had sustained a head injury.

Types of concussion?

Traditionally,  the severity of concussion was based on the loss of consciousness and its duration together with  the presence of amnesia. It was presumed that there was a correlation between those two events and the amount of potential brain damage.

According to The International Conference of Concussion in Sports concussion be divided into two groups: simple and complex.

Simple concussion: In a simple concussion,  the symptoms gradually resolve, and the patient returns to normal function in seven to 10 days.

Complex concussion: In complex concussions, symptoms remain and thought processes are affected. Patients who have repeated concussions would fall into the complex category.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following preventions.

1-Sports players should wear appropriate protective gear during games and other recreational activities. The equipment should fit well, be maintained and worn correctly. Players should follow rules and play responsibly and in a sportsmanlike way. Cyclists of any kind of vehicle should wear protective headgear.

2-Buckle your car seat belt. The belt can prevent an injury to the head in case of an accident.

3-Make your home safe.  Since falls around the home are the leading cause of head injury for infants, toddlers and older adults it’s  important to keep the home well lit and  floors free of objects — meaning anything that might cause someone to trip and fall..

4-Protect your children. To help lower the risk of head injuries to  children, it’s a good idea to place padding around countertops and edges of tables. If there are very young children in the house, block off stairways and install window guards. Don’t let  children play sports that are not at their age level.

5-Use caution in and around swimming areas. Don’t dive into a pool that is less than 9 feet (3 meters) deep.  Follow posted safety rules at water parks and public pools.

6-Wear sensible shoes. Wear shoes that are easy to walk  in. Don’t wear high heels, sandals with thin straps, or shoes that are either too slippery or too sticky.

Concussion Treatment

When there is bleeding under the scalp, but outside the skull, it creates a “goose egg” or large bruise, called a hematoma, at the site of the head injury. Generally this hematoma will go away on its own with time.

The use of ice immediately after the trauma may help decrease its size however do not apply ice directly to the skin. Rather  use a washcloth as a barrier and  wrap the ice in it. One can also use a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth, as this conforms nicely to the shape of the head.

Ice should be applied for 20-30 minutes at a time and repeated  every two to four hours.  After 48 hours there is little benefit to icing.

Resting is important to allow the brain to heal.

The patient should be seen by a professional health expert as soon as possible.

According to the  American Academy of Neurology  any athlete suspected of having a concussion should be removed from play until   evaluation by a physician. If a concussion is suspected , the Centers for Disease Control recommends implementing a 3-step plan:

1-The player should immediately stop playing and not return until the doctor approves.

 2-Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself but rather have a professional do it.

3-Inform the athlete’s family about the possible concussion and give them vital information about  concussions.

If a second concussion  occurs before the brain has recovered from the first one it can slow recovery or even increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. In some cases, repeat concussions can result in edema (brain swelling), brain damage, and even death.

If, unfortunately, brain damage occurs and it results in paresis of one or more limbs then after the acute stage it is important to use the best physical therapy solution available. One of the most cost effective and efficient physical therapy products available is the TUTOR system. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are products that are used to allow intensive exercise therapy to the brain injured patient.

The newly developed HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy for interactive rehabilitation exercise. These innovative products implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The training is  customized by the occupational and physical therapists to ensure that the patient stays motivated to do intensive repetitive manual therapy and exercise practice.   The TUTOR system is now  part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals where they are used  in rehabilitation clinics and in the patient’s home through the use of telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Physical Therapy Solutions—Today Rats! Tomorrow Humans

Scientists writing in the journal SCIENCE recently reported that rats with a spinal cord injury leaving their hind legs paralyzed relearned walking on their own after an intensive training course which included electrical stimulation of the brain and the spine.

About to begin working on technology that will allow the same progress in humans the scientists state that what they accomplished was  the most comprehensive and rigorous study to date of what is possible in recovering from such injuries.

Few scientists ever thought that it would be possible to complete rehabilitation after such a disabling blow to the spinal cord. After weeks of training, many of the rats could walk as well as before the injury, and some could even run.

It is important to not that the findings do not apply to all spinal injuries. The rats’ spinal columns were cut but were not completely severed. There were still  nerve connections that extended intact through the injured area.

The study which was led by Gregoire Courtine of the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology performed the same surgical injury on 10 rats.  All direct nerve connections to the hind legs were cut but stopped short of severing the spinal cord. The rats lost the use of their back legs but not their front legs.

The rats then were given a daily regimen. They were outfitted with tiny vests, held upright on their back legs but left to bear their full weight. The rats then tried to move toward a piece of cheese that was nearby. The scientists then provided electrical stimulation in 3 places: in the motor area of the brain,  in the spinal cord below the injury, and chemically, in the wound area with drugs thought to promote growth.

Growth is what was achieved. After 2 to 3 weeks of 30-minute daily sessions, the rats started to take their first voluntary steps. After six weeks, all of the rats  walked on their own, and some  ran and climbed stairs. A control group of rats did not recover  as well.

Wow! That’s exciting news. Now, until this is perfected patients will have to do with other tupes of physical therapy solutions such as the TUTOR system.

The LEGTUTOR and its sister devices (HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) have been used in physiotherapy and occupational therapy to treat victims of Spinal Column Injury and MS for some time now.

 The TUTOR system is used in an inpatient, outpatient and home rehabilitation environment  as an aid in order to achieve the patient’s functional ability goal as much as possible.

 It is designed for those who have head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction as a result of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, CP or post arm and leg surgery in addition to brain and spinal cord injury.

The TUTOR system consists of ergonomic wearable devices together with powerful dedicated rehabilitation software. The LEGTUTOR and its sister devices (HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR) works by offering the patient intensive exercise practice based on motivating and challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. Controlled exercise practice is the mainstay of physiotherapists and physical and occupational therapists manual therapy method. Manual therapy using the Tutor system will help to prevent the development of compensatory movement patterns. The dedicated software allows the therapist to fully customize the exercises to the patient’s movement ability whether the patient has good range of motion or limited movement ability. In addition the therapist can objectively and quantitatively evaluate and report on the treatment progress. This can be presented to the patient to encourage his continued participation in exercises.  The physical therapy solution using the TUTOR system optimizes the patient’s motor, sensory and cognitive performance and allows him to better perform everyday functional tasks and to improve his quality of life. The TUTOR system is FDA and CE certified and can be used with telerehabilitation as well. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Post Knee Replacement Physical Therapy–A “Piece of Cake”?

There are probably more articles about knee replacement than about any other medical  procedure. One can read about expert advice and situations on a daily basis. And why not? There are approximately 600,000 knee replacements annually just in the U.S. alone. What is crucial, though, is the aftercare. If the surgery is to be successful the follow up therapy and advice needs to be adhered to. At first walkers and crutches are used, sitting in a chair for up to half an hour and then isometric exercises. All this before physical therapy even begins at home or elsewhere. One of the most important exercises will be to push the knee down in extension.

When the therapy begins  one of the best physical therapy solutions that can be helpful is the LEGTUTOR.

The LEGTUTOR has shown remarkable success in post knee replacement surgery. The LEGTUTOR™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity. Together with the 3DTUTOR the LEGTUTOR can be used to increase the patient’s proprioception performance with dedicated games  developed in the rehabilitation software for this outcome. The TUTOR system rehabilitation concept, which includes the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level including balance and proprioception training. This is achieved with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance.  The exercises are designed in the form of challenging rehabilitation games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease. The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise task to their best ability and to continue exercise practice. Exercise practice is the most important manual therapy tool in the armory of physical and occupational therapists to ensure optimal rehabilitation.

The LEGTUTOR™ is a physical therapy product that allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks.

 The LEGTUTOR™ system is a physical therapy solution used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide for both neurological and orthopedic patients including adults and children. The TUTOR system holds FDA and CE certification. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

New Innovations for Spinal Cord Injury Patient Rehabilitation

It’s not a secret that for people with spinal cord injury the recovery process is difficult and long. Therefore there are all kinds of fresh approaches to assist these patients in their recovery and to make it easier for them.

One of these innovations is The First Steps Wellness Centre of Edmonton,Canada that just began its operations a little over a year ago. It is a rehabilitation gym that specializes in treating people with spinal cord injuries. In this short time over 30 clients are receiving this specialized treatment. The method at the center is to combine physiotherapy with a gym workout thereby improving muscle function. Their success is measured by the fact that their ”graduates” have more of a chance of walking again.

Another recent innovation is the TUTOR system. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are physical therapy products that have been designed to administer intensive exercises to the spinal cord injury patient by having him move his affected limb through a series of challenging games. These are part of powerful and exclusive software that gives the therapist objective and quantitative information on the patient’s impairment. The information is then recorded and documented thereby allowing the occupational and physiotherapist to customize the treatment session to the patient’s specific needs. The TUTORs are extensively used as well for physical therapy solutions to Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, stroke, CP, MS, and other upper and lower limb disabilities or surgeries.

The TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE, is available for adults as well as children and can be used at the patient’s home through rehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Telemedicine as a Solution for Post Stroke Physical Therapy

Whether it is called telerehabilitation, telemedicine, tele-physical therapy, tele-physiotherapy or tele-occupational therapy , these systems allow a therapist in a remote location to conduct treatment sessions, using a virtual-environment-based motor-training system, with a patient who is located at home. The system consists of a patient computer with motion-capture equipment and video camera, a therapist computer with video camera, and virtual-environment software that is synchronized over a high-speed Internet connection.

 Home-based telerehabilitation interventions have shown promising results in improving the health of stroke patients and in supporting caregivers. Telemedicine systems based on a virtual environment for upper extremity exercise can improve the physical health of stroke patients. Health professionals and participants reported high levels of satisfaction and acceptance of telerehabilitation interventions. During performance, the patient can see not only their movement but also the correct trajectory that they have to accomplish. The feedback derived from the patient’s action, its outcome and feedback from the supervision of the physiotherapist can favor the acquisition of new motor abilities by the patient.

 The TUTOR system of telerehabilitation is at the forefront of this recent innovation. Users are those patients who have suffered a stroke or other limb limiting injuries or disease and are not required to be hospitalized any longer or who need continuing therapy sessions and live too far away from clinics. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are physical therapy products that use an impairment based rehabilitation program with powerful software and augmented feedback that encourages motor learning.  The TUTORs are medical devices that form a physical therapy solution where these physical rehabilitation products have been created to allow the therapist, whether right there with the patient or at a remote location, to evaluate and objectively quantify and record the patient’s sessions. This allows for customization of the treatment program. The TUTOR process  combined with traditional functional exercises speeds up functional recovery. 

Now in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals the TUTOR system is fully certified by the FDA and CE., For more information go to WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL

Young Women’s Chances of Suffering a Stroke

Did you know that more women die of stroke than from Aids or breast cancer combined? Stroke is the second leading cause of women’s death in the entire world. The misconception is that the public thinks that stroke is an old lady’s affliction. Many young women and especially those on birth control pills or going through pregnancy suffer strokes.

 Unfortunately emergency rooms are too slow in diagnosing stroke in women preferring rather to check for drug intake or bacteria before discovering the real reason for weakness in an arm or leg. Once a CT scan is administered and they see the truth the doctors then question the women about their use of birth control pills and smoking.

 It may be true that women are atypical in their symptoms and therefore it may be more difficult to diagnose them than men. Dr. Steven J. Kittner, director of the Maryland Stroke Center and Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board member, has done extensive work with young women and stroke. Young women are not thought of as being a high risk for stroke. The Goddess Fund is dedicated to the education of health care professionals and also disseminates information needed for stroke prevention and treatment.

 Another problem is that some stroke organizations don’t sufficiently explain the risks of birth control pills as a potential cause of stroke. Smoking and taking birth control pills is especially dangerous. The combination increases the risk of stroke 22% more than the average person. Some doctors, though, have stopped prescribing certain birth control pills to those that smoke.

 According to WHO, the Women’s Health Organization, those that use ”the pill” are 3 times more likely to suffer an ischemic stroke than non users. WHO also found that oral contraceptive users over the age of 35 had a greater risk of getting a hemorrhagic stroke compared to non users.

 Most frustrating is the slow and difficult process of rehabilitation. Exercises to improve fine muscle coordination and other skills are arduous. Luckily there are modern physical therapy products and solutions  that can greatly improve movement ability for stroke victims young or old. One such set of tools is the TUTOR system. The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices (ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation for stroke victims as well as for those recovering from brain and spinal injuries,Parkinson’s, MS, CP and other limb disabling limitations. 

These innovative devices implement a physical therapy solution that is 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 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  objective. In this  way the patient is given  feedback that allows him to understand which effort is more successful.  The TUTOR system provides exercises that are challenging and motivating and allows for repetitive and intensive exercise practice. The TUTOR system is now part of the rehabilitation solution of leading U.S. German, Italian, French, UK and other foreign hospitals. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.