Paralysis From a Non-Physical Source?

Arriving at the University Medical Center in Salt Lake City all the way from South Africa, the helicopter carrying Jeremy Clark landed noisily. Jeremy, a 23 year old college graduate had been on a Mormon religious mission for just a few weeks when he woke one morning to find that his legs were completely paralyzed. Doctors in S.A. were unable to find anything wrong with him medically.

Also not speaking made his examination process in Utah more difficult. Doctors were determined to get to the bottom of the problem and arranged for various tests to be performed. It was necessary to rule out diseases such as multiple sclerosis (ms); myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that causes varying degrees of muscle weakness; Guillain-Barré syndrome, an acute condition associated with progressive muscle weakness and paralysis and stroke. A lumbar puncture to collect fluid from around the brain and inside the spinal cord had to be done to rule out infection.  

Then a full medical examination was conducted. Jeremy was a healthy and physically fit young man and his heart, lungs, abdomen, neurological exam, muscle tone all acted in a normal fashion. He was able to move his head, neck and arms without a problem but his legs would not move at all. More surprising was the fact that tapping his legs with a rubber hammer showed that there was no damage to the nerve path between muscles and spinal cord.

A stroke was ruled out as that usually would have affected only one side of the body. A discussion with Jeremy’s parents ruled out drug use or mental health problems. A doctor involved in the case was wondering whether Jeremy was ”faking” his symptoms and finally the staff psychiatrist was called in for an evaluation.

After another neurological exam the psychiatrist came up with a diagnosis of ”conversion disorder”. He explained that conversion disorder is an unusual psychological state with symptoms that resemble a neurological disorder or another medical condition. It usually begins abruptly and begins with a mental conflict or emotional crisis. Then it “converts” to a physical problem that prevents the patient from being involved in the activity that was causing him stress. There are a relatively small number of cases reported per 100,000 people and it is more common in women. Beginning at almost any age it usually occurs between the ages of 11 and 35. Aside from paralysis it can also cause amnesia, blindness, motor tics and other ”symptoms”.Usually the disorder will disappear spontaneously after 2 weeks of hospitalization and in some cases a physical illness is discovered later.

Jeremy was told about his condition, reassured that there was no physical disability and that he would recover very soon. After further routine questioning Jeremy broke down and and stated that he could not continue with the mission he was sent on. He didn’t like talking about religion with people. He was reluctant to come home because he thought he would let his parents or God down . This caused him enormous stress. The doctor informed him that no one could force him to go back. The situation was explained to his parents who agreed to get involved in his therapy sessions and rehabilitation. Within days Jeremy was walking the halls and was discharged from the hospital after making a complete recovery from the paralysis.

When a disease or surgery causes an incomplete paralysis of a limb or joint the most effective physical therapy solution should be found. Fortunately, a recent innovation has created the TUTOR system of products known as the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR. The TUTOR system was developed to allow intensive exercise practice to those who have incurred a stroke, brain/spinal cord injury, MS, CP, knee/hip surgery or other type of upper or lower limb disabling event.

The TUTORs consist of ergonomically comfortable gloves or braces that are strategically placed and contain sensors connected to sophisticated exercise game programs. Physical or occupational therapists record and monitor the progress made and then design a specific exercise regimen for that patient. The TUTOR system is now in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics. Fully certified by the FDA and CE they are available for use at home through telerehabilitation and can be used by adults and children from the age of 5 and up. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for further information.

Hope for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the Central Nervous System (CNS). Specifically it affects one or more parts of the brain, spinal cord or optic nerve. The original dysfunction is at a cellular level where the neurons that are sent around the brain and body cannot do their job properly because the Myelin sheath protecting their pathways is partially or completely eroded and the underlying fiber is damaged.  Immune cells have attacked the Myelin sheath and therefore the nerve cell cannot transmit signals. Scientists are not sure why, how or from where these cells come.

The symptoms prevalent in an MS patient vary. Not all symptoms occur to every MS patient and several symptoms can be associated with other medical issues aside from MS. However the following are just some of the symptoms that can be attributed to MS.  Loss of balance; limb weakness which makes walking difficult; an onset of paralysis;  footdrop where the foot drags during walking; proprioceptive dysfunction which is a loss of awareness of body parts and cognitive dysfunction.

As unfortunate as these symptoms are there are therapies that can slow down the onset of many, if not all, of them. Using state of the art physical therapy solutions, such as the TUTOR system, experience has shown, that an MS patient can be made more comfortable by arresting the symptoms and improving his general health.

The recently developed HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy for interactive rehabilitation exercises. 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. This 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 look at motor, sensory and cognitive impairments and they customize treatment for them. By using the LEGTUTOR, for example, the patient controls proprioception as he becomes aware that his leg or lower limb is the one that is functioning. Cognitive dysfunction is  alleviated by the use of these physical therapy products as the patient can first, remember a movement then plan how it is going to be used and finally implementing it.. All of the TUTORs can be used in the same way to accomplish the similar goals.

The TUTORs are being used to provide intensive exercises not only for MS patients but also for those who have had a stroke, a brain or spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease or other upper and lower limb surgery or disability.The TUTORs are now  part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals where they are used in clinics and in the patient’s home through telerehabilitation. The TUTORs are fully certified by the FDA and CE and available for adults and children from the age of 5 and up.

See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for further information.

U.S. Army Enters Fight …Against Traumatic Brain Injury

It was reported by the Army News Service on August 31, 2012 that the U.S. Army together with the National Football League will be joining to increase the research into the causes, prevention and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

An agreement was reached and signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell  to continue sharing their resources to combat TBI.

Attending the event were soldiers and players who have had concussions during their service or games. Representatives of the medical corps and 200 cadets also participated.

Ironically it is the tough discipline and feeling of team over self that they are taught which prevents soldiers and players from disclosing that they were injured and from seeking help after a concussion.

These traits make it difficult for individuals to admit that they have a particular problem, especially mental.

Gen. Odierno stated that the goal of the new program is to educate the soldier and player to come forward and be educated that they have to seek treatment both on the battlefield and on the playing field.

The general discussed various examples of how dialogue and the sharing of research can monitor TBI. One of the methods is placing sensors in the helmets that are worn that can detect a concussion after a trauma to the head occurs.

NFL commissioner  Goodell told those assembled that basic cultures (of not disclosing concussions) have to change making players and soldiers share their experiences. The importance of disclosing the incident with officers higher in rank needs to take place without fear of retribution just because they disclosed what happened.

Some officers and players told about their personal experiences and how they were reluctant to seek help.

The NFL commissioner stated that not asking for help will no longer be tolerated. That there has to be accountability. That coaches and other players will no longer be able to make the decision. Only medical personnell will be allowed to judge whether a player or soldier can return to duty. Proper leadership and supervision includes allowing this to happen.

” Seeking help is playing smart.” he added.

Both officials said that enough progress hasn’t been made yet and more needs to be done.

There is an Army Directive that stipulates that soldiers have a minimum of 24 hours of downtime and need to get a medical clearance before returning to duty following a blast or vehicle incident.

Maj. Sarah Goldman, program director of Army Traumatic Brain Injury at the Office of the Surgeon General, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division, stated that more than 13,000 service members sustained some form of concussion since 2010 and 95 percent were returned to duty.

Odierno, admitted that when he played football he  would not have sought medical attention for a concussion. “I wouldn’t have taken myself out. Someone else would have had to.” He said that kind of thinking is wrong.

The general added that the army and players have to have a bond to take care of each other no matter what the rank.

When TBI occurs the best physical therapy solutions should be put in place. Currently that includes the TUTOR system.

Victims of brain injury and stroke can benefit greatly from the  Tutor system– the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and the 3DTUTOR. The Tutor system is being used successfully in leading U.S. and foreign hospitals and clinics and is also benefiting home care patients through the use of telerehabilitation.This ensures that the patient is motivated to do more practice between treatments by the therapists.

 The newly developed HANDTUTOR and its sister devices  have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy for brain injury patients including, post stroke and TBI patients. These innovative physical therapy products implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback  that encourages intensive practice and motor learning through  active exercises. The exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive   training tailored to the patient’s performance , motor , sensory and cognitive movement ability. Customized simple and powerful rehabilitation software allows the physical and occupational therapist  the ability to adjust the program and exercise difficulty to the patient’s movement ability. The system also includes objective quantitative evaluations that allow the physiotherapist and his occupational therapist colleagues to report on the patient’s exercise progress.    The TUTOR system is suitable for children as well as adults.

See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for further information.

 

”Do Re Me Fa So La” and Physical Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation medicine combined with music therapy has been around for some time now. It as helped people with all kinds of physical disorders   and even those affected by Rett syndrome. The benefits of adding music, an art, to a physical maneuver is unique and successful.Numerous studies have shown how physical therapy results are enhanced by adding music in the background or having the patient directly involved in creating the music. The music is actually ”instrumental” in physical recovery and health maintenance.

One of the beautiful benefits of using music during physical rehabilitation is that one can witness the active and consistent participation of the patient which is often not the case with standard rehabilitation. The  music itself encourages participation in exercises. It can also relieve the discomfort associated with the activities. It is the goal of regular music therapy to get the participant to express himself through the music so the common goal here is to alleviate symptoms of orthopedic, pediatric and neurological conditions in order to improve range of motion, strength, communication, balance and cognition and generally the quality of life.

Occupational therapists are finding that music therapy assists clients to maximize the patient’s independence in their daily roles.

When accompanying music is used in conjunction with physical rehabilitation it would be the ultimate combination if the  physical therapy products  in use were of the highest quality and most efficient. Such would be the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR. These recently created devices are comfortable ergonomically designed gloves and braces that are strategically placed on affected limbs and through sensors are connected to sophisticated software. The software consists of exclusively designed games that the patient plays. Physical therapists monitor , record and evaluate the patient’s progress and design a specific exercise program for the patient. The patient himself activates the limb rather than an external robotic device that causes movement. In that way the patient has control and can progress further independently.

The TUTOR system has been in use now for some time in leading U.S. and European hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. The TUTORs are fully certified by the FDA and CE, are available for children as well as adults and can be used at the patient’s home through the use of telerehabilitation.

See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

When did Physical Therapy Start– a Timeline History

 

Physical therapy not only cures various ailments of joints and bones by restoring and maintaining maximum movement and functionability it also contributes to the psychological, physical, emotional and social health of a person. But when and where did it start?

460 BC–The philosophers Hippocrates and Hector used water therapy (hydrotherapy) and massage to treat their patients.Now, fast forward to:

1884–Four British nurses formulated the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy soon emulated by other countries.

1913,4–The School of Physiotherapy of the University of Otago in New Zealand and Reed College in Portland, Oregon, USA were established. These were the  first higher education facilities that taught physical therapy.

1917-8–World War I produced many injured soldiers who benefited from this treatment so the industry grew. The system was then called ”rehabilitation therapy” and the people employed to administer it were called ”reconstruction aides”.Basically they were nurses who had additional training in physical education and massage therapy.

1921–A journal called ”PT Review” featured an article on physical therapy. Another organization called the ”American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association” (later changed to American Physical Therapy Association–APTA) was established by Mary McMillan, a physical therapy aide. She became known as ”the mother of physical therapy”.

 1924–The Geogia Warm Springs Foundation suggested that physical therapy be used in the treatment of polio. U.S. President F.D.Roosevelt was a polio victim and spent a lot of time in Warm Springs.

1940s–massage, exercise and traction became common treatments in the field of physiotherapy

1950s–British Commonweath countries began the practice of manipulative therapy for people suffering from spine and joint ailments and pain. It was during this decade that physical therapy began to be administered outside hospitals. Schools, universities, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers also administered these treatments.

 1974–doctors began specializing in physical therapy. APTA formed an Orthopedic Section for those specializing in Orthopedics. A new organization called  the ”International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy” popularized manual therapy.

1980s–Medical science began using computers in the field of physiotherapy. Devices such as electrical stimulators were introduced which enhanced the treatment.

2008–The HANDTUTOR was created for hand, wrist and upper limb injury rehabilitation.

2011– additional TUTOR physical therapy products called the ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR were devised to allow patient rehabilitation for other parts of the body affected by stroke, brain/spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s, CP, MS and other upper and lower limb malfunctions.

These latest physical therapy products brought amazing results to the field of physiotherapy to help cure

 a number of disorders and injuries, ranging from  musculoskeletal and sports injuries to rehabilitation from hand, wrist, elbow, knee surgeries and Ulnar fractures in addition to other head, trunk, upper and lower extremity movement dysfunction.

The TUTOR system uses comfortable and ergonomically designed gloves and braces strategically placed on various limbs together with powerful dedicated software. The system consists of motivating and challenging games that allow the patient  to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. These exercises are monitored by physical therapists who record and evaluate the patent’s progress and customize an exercise program for that particular patient.

The TUTORs are currently in use in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics and are available for home use through telerehabilitation. Designed to be used for children from the age of 5 and up as well as adults, the TUTORs are fully certified by the FDA and CE. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

A ”Pacemaker” for Parkinson’s Patients

In line with the international effort to combat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, it was announced on June 20, 2012 that Professor Hagai Bergman of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University’s neurobiology department had been able to surgically implant a battery operated neurostimulator, similar to a heart pacemaker, to deliver electrical stimulation to specific parts of the brain that control movement. This tiny device blocks the abnormal nerve signals that cause the severe shaking and other symptoms that Parkinson’s patients experience. About 0.4% of the Israeli Parkinson’s population had already received the new device but there was further adjustment necessary.

For Parkinson’s patients that are not acceptable for this procedure and for those that are still waiting for the special surgery other methods are needed to counter the debilitating movements that are prevalent with this disease. When these latter patients are in need of physical therapy solutions the TUTOR system comes in handy. The TUTORs, which consist of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR, are comfortable ergonomic gloves and braces placed on various limbs of the body and are connected to a computer with dedicated software that allows the patient to get intensive exercises. These exercises are in the form of challenging games that allow the patient to practice isolated and/or interjoint coordination exercises. Controlled exercise practice 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. In addition the the therapist can objectively and quantitatively evaluate and report on treatment progress. The rehabilitation system 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 currently used in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics to treat patients that have Parkinson’s disease as well as CP, MS, stroke, brain and spinal cord injury and other upper and lower limb disabilities.

The TUTORs are one of the most cost effective physical therapy tools on the market and are fully certified by the FDA and CE. They are available for adults as well as children and can be used at home via telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.

Internet Based Versus Conventional Physical Therapy

A study conducted by T.G. Russell, P. Buttrum, and R. Wooton etal in 2011 used a 6 week, 65 participant patient base for looking at a comparison of a group using  telehealth physical rehabilitation versus  another conventional therapy   group. The outcomes for flexion, extension, range of motion, muscle strength, limb girth, pain, quality of life and clinical test scores were the same for Internet based therapy (IBT) as for the conventional group. The study thus advocates for an investigation of cost reduction and comparative effectiveness for consumers of telehealth in physical therapy solutions.

One of the best and most cost effective physical therapy products on the market today is the TUTOR system. This physical therapy solution also includes the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are gloves or braces that are attached to affected disabled limbs with sensors to a dedicated and exclusive software program. The patient with some paresis stemming from Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain/spinal cord injury, CP, MS or other limb disabling illnesses or surgeries is able to be involved in an intensive exercise program. The attending physical/occupational therapist  then records the information and customizes the treatment session to fit the patient’s needs. This creates augmented feedback leading to enhanced functional rehabilitation. All this is available as a physical therapy solution through the use of telerehabilitation where the patient either has improved to the point that he doesn’t need hospitalization care or where he may be located too far from a rehabilitation facility.

For more information on the TUTOR system see WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL             

Neighborhood Effect on Stroke Patient Recovery

According to Cari Jo Clark, Sc.D., assistant professor, medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Scott C. Brown, Ph.D., research assistant professor, epidemiology and public health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine writing in the journal Stroke on April 14, 2011, seniors that live in neighborhoods where they have a lot of neighborly interaction  stand a much better chance of surviving a stroke. 

Each factor of cohesion with their neighbor (seeing, talking, calling on them for assistance etc.) increases the survival rate by  53 percent and may even prevent mortality. These  factors show the importance of living in a positive and cohesive neighborhood according to Dr. Clark. 

In the Chicago area study neighbors were asked about talking to people in the street, doing yard work, taking care of children and whether they watched out for each other, whether neighbors were known by name, how many friends they had and who they could call on for help. This is called ”cohesion”. Even after taking into account factors such as: socioeconomic status, high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes and obesity the findings still remained significant.

 Strangely and without explanation the positive effects of the study were found for whites and not blacks. Further research is needed to determine why this cohesiveness is not shared equally by the different race groups. Dr. Brown believes that shared values might promote healthy behaviors between neighbors. There might be other factors that come into play such as health care access or crime.

Access to the best rehabilitation systems and high technology physical therapy products may alleviate physical problems resulting from the stroke. Such systems include the TUTORs. Known as the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR, 3DTUTOR, they have been designed to optimize motor, sensory and cognitive performance for stroke patients and thereby improve their quality of life. 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. This training is tailored and customized by the occupational and physical therapist to ensure that the patient stays motivated to do intensive repetitive manual therapy and exercise practice.

   The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are now  part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals with the TUTORs being used in clinics and in the patient’s homes.  The system is also used for physical rehabilitation after TBI, SCI, CP and effects of Parkinson’s disease, upper and lower limb surgeries and other issues of physical disability. Home care patients can be supported by the occupational and physical therapist using physical therapy solutions that enable  tele-rehabilitation. The TUTORs are FDA and CE certified. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM

An Analysis of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is very common in younger people with males aged 15-35 the most severely affected. TBI can cause life long impairments both in physical but also in cognitive abilities. The focus of retraining is on ADLs, pain mangement and non physical therapies.

TBI is caused by an external force to the brain which causes at least temporary but more often permanent neurological dysfunction. TBI occurs about ten times more than Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

The results of TBI are disruption of the patient’s and family’s life, loss of income, considerable expense, physical disability, behavioral changes, personal relationship disruption, coping with school work and much more.

TBI can be as little as a concussion all the way to getting into a vegetative state.

Vehicular accidents are the most common cause with alcohol consumption accounting for half of all incidents.

Because each person is different in many ways the goals of rehabilitation need to be individualized to the patient and his family.

Continuity of care is necessary even if there is much improvment. The care is not only medical but also familial or instuitutional.

If Post Traumatic Amnesia (PTA) occurs for less than two weeks the goal may be full recovery but if it lingers for 4-6 weeks there may be more permanent symptoms.

In general the goal of rehabilitation is to return the patient to the previous level of functioning. It consists of a) inpatient care or b) community involvement (family, community services).

70-85% suffer mild TBI and it’s rare that they would need inpatient care. 10-15% have lingering symptoms such as headache, changes in taste and hearing, attention, memory loss, insomnia and more.

Those with moderate to severe TBI have more unpredictable outcomes although some recover sufficiently to return to work and are capable of self care and normal activity. Depending on available support TBI patients will rehabilitate faster or slower.

Then there is the social disability aspect of TBI. It can affect the competency for handling financial matters and sometimes a guardianship may have to be set up. When a TBI patient returns to work he may need retraining. There may be aggression, lack of empathy, substance misuse or abuse. Social behavior may have changed. Behavioral management may be necessary. A medication regimen and managment may become necessary.

Children usually have better outcomes than adults however certain symptoms may not appear till a later stage of the child’s development.

If one of the symptoms of TBI is loss of mobility in one or more limbs the preferred rehabilitation tool may be the TUTOR system.

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 LEGTUTOR is a leg brace for leg and hip. The system is indicated for patients who have suffered TBI, a stroke, 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 accompanying software is a physical therapy product that 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 Tutor system is a physical therapy solution that allows the OT and PT to make objective follow up and reports on their patient’s progress. Rehabilitation aims to optimize 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 and www.meditouch.co.il for more information.

Post Stroke Physical Rehabilitation for the Elderly Population

• Michaela M. Pinter and  Michael Brainin of the Department for Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine, Danube University Krems, Austria, in  November 2011 published, a study about rehabilitation after stroke in the elderly population.
   Since stroke is a leading cause of disability  therefore rehabilitation is an integral part of patient care. Most interventions do not target aged patients but there is  evidence to promote rehabilitation in  stroke units  in the elderly community. Till now most research has focused on the effect of interventions on recovery with different forms of impairment and disability. The most promising options for motor recovery of the arm include CIMT, robotic-assisted therapies, fitness training, high-intensity therapy, and repetitive-task training.
   However, information about the clinical effect of different strategies of cognitive rehabilitation  is scarce. Several  trials of rehabilitation practice are underway to test these interventions on the elderly., Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and repetitive task training are included in the rehabilitation therapy afforded by the TUTOR system.
   The TUTOR system allows the stroke patient to use his own power to exercise rather than receive a stimulus from an outside robotic source thereby affording a more efficient improvement in mobility. The ARMTUTOR which is used extensively in stroke therapy, 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 (PT) (OT) to customize the right exercise parameters to the patient’s movement ability and report on the patient’s exercise progress. The ARMTUTOR rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled and repetitive exercise rehabilitation practice. It does this 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 injuries and diseases., The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise at a customized difficulty level. This level is set by the OT or PT and encourages the patient to do intensive repetitive exercise practice.
  The ARMTUTOR allows for isolated and a combination of elbow and three directional shoulder treatments. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patient’s exercise performance. Overall, controlled exercise of multijoints within a normal movement pattern will prevent the patient developing an undesired or compensatory joint movement pattern and this will ensure better, performance of functional tasks.
  The ARMTUTOR and its sister devices (LEGTUTOR, HANDTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) are used wordwide in hospitals and clinics and are FDA and CE certified. They can be used at home through telerehabilitation. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information….