Smart Glove May Help Recover from Stroke
Students at McGill University in Quebec, Canada have developed an electronic glove that can monitor how well patients post stroke are playing video games. Sensors throughout the glove provide detailed information about hand motion and the system can send the data to a physician or rehab specialist. It is designed to allow patients to exercise [...]
Bionic Leg for Active Robotic Stroke Rehabilitation
A couple years ago Medgadget wrote about a powered knee orthosis from Tibion Bionic Technologies developed for people with muscle problems, arthritis, and those post surgery to regain missing strength. A potential use of the Tibion bionic leg that was considered in the past was to help those suffering from the residual effects of a [...]
Where Stroke Rehab Meets Robotics, Android and Gaming
How do you enhance brain plasticity in patients recovering from stroke, so to improve their motor functions? This is the question that Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Myomo, Inc., the maker of an upcoming mPower 1000 neuro-robotic arm brace, is trying to answer. By utilizing some of today’s technologies, the company is embracing new solutions to make stroke [...]
The impact of bilateral therapy on upper limb function after chronic stroke: a systematic review.
The purpose of this study was to determine the evidence for bilateral therapy interventions aimed at improving upper limb (UL) function in adults with a range of UL activity limitations due to a first time chronic stroke. Seven databases were searched prior to 2008 for articles reporting experimental studies investigating bilateral UL interventions on functional [...]
Psychometric Comparisons of 3 Functional Ambulation Measures for Patients With Stroke.
This stud compared the test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Dynamic Gait Index, the 4-item Dynamic Gait Index, and the Functional Gait Assessment for assessment of walking in patients with stroke. Forty-five outpatients participating in the validity and responsiveness study were tested using the 3 walking measures as well as the 10-m walk test, [...]
Balance ability, not muscle strength and exercise endurance, determines the performance of hemiparetic subjects on the timed-sit-to-stand test.
The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of balance ability, muscle strength, and exercise endurance to performance in the timed-sit-to-stand test among chronic hemiparetic subjects. By using Pearson correlation coefficient, the five-times-sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test scores showed the highest negative correlation with Berg Balance Scale scores (r = −0.837, P < 0.001), and [...]
Effects of an intensive, task-specific rehabilitation program for individuals with chronic stroke: a case series.
The purpose of this case series was to determine feasibility and evaluate changes in activity and participation outcomes in persons with chronic stroke after an intensive, task-specific rehabilitation program incorporating whole-body and client-centred interventions. Participants with chronic stroke (N = 12) who were ambulatory and had at least minimal arm/hand function were recruited. The program [...]
Changes in perceived health between one and five years after stroke: A randomized controlled trial of early supported discharge with continued rehabilitation at home versus conventional rehabilitation.
Early supported discharge with continued rehabilitation at home (ESD) for patients with mild to moderate impairments has been compared to conventional rehabilitation in a randomized controlled trial. The aim of this study was to explore changes over time in perceived health status over the five years after stroke onset. Of 83 patients enrolled in a [...]
Risk factors for inferior shoulder subluxation in patients with stroke.
Shoulder subluxation is reported in up to 81% of stroke patients. It presents considerable challenges to those involved in rehabilitation. Extensive research has focused on treatment strategies used to reduce subluxation. A better understanding of the risk factors of shoulder subluxation would enable clinicians to provide effective management of this debilitating complication. Of the 36 [...]
Simultaneous bilateral training for improving arm function after stroke.
The objective of this review was to determine the effects of simultaneous bilateral training for improving arm function after stroke. 18 studies involving 549 relevant participants, of which 14 (421 participants) were included in the analysis (one within both comparisons) were included. Four of the 14 studies compared the effects of bilateral training with usual [...]
Return to top of page