How Exercise Physiologists help people with neurol …
The people who benefit from an intensive therapy approach are people with a neurological condition such as stroke or multiple sclerosis who have some movement in their upper limb but want to know if it is possible to get their hand and arm moving better.
Many people do arm and hand exercises yet do not see the recovery they hoped for. It may be that the intensity is not high enough to drive re learning and neuroplastic change.
We know from the literature and our own clinical experience, that up to 60% of people report ongoing problems with their arm and hand after a brain injury or stroke. It is the stroke- related physical impairments, such as muscle weakness, pain, and spasticity that can lead to a reduction in the ability to use the stroke-affected arm and hand in daily activities. In fact, the avoidance of using one’s stroke-affected arm is so common, that there is even a name for it “learned non-use syndrome”. Unfortunately, not using the stroke-affected arm can lead to a further loss in strength, range of motion, and fine motor skills.
The Upper Limb Boot Intensive Program is typically structured as up to 3 hours of therapy a day, up to five days a week for two weeks or more. Your individually prescribed intensive program can be structured around your unique circumstances. As long as you are practicing the right exercises for you every day, we can deliver the program in many different ways over shorter or longer time periods.
Each day you can spend up to 3 hours at the clinic working on your program . At home you will practice putting this training back in to everyday life. After the boot camp we will help you to continue your rehab with regular phone calls, a home visit where possible and a comprehensive workbook.
In our clinic you would be utilising state of the art technology designed to drive maximum therapeutic benefit through high repetitions and challenge. Our equipment includes:
MYRO BY TYROMOTION
The Myro is a sophisticated task-oriented rehabilitation device with a sensor-based surface and real objects. It trains gross-motor skills, fine-motor-skills, rotation movement, hand-eye coordination, and motoric coordination. It is especially valuable for people with deficits in motor function, concentration, selective attention, visual-spatial perception, and spatial-perceptive ability.
AMADEO BY TYROMOTION
The Amadeo is a robotics and sensor-based rehabilitation device for use with the individual finger and thumb movements of the hand. It is a sophisticated assessment tool and motivates people to engage in a challenging therapy program driving excellent results.
PABLO BY TYROMOTION
Recovery of the upper limb, which includes the arm and hand, doesn’t always match the success of the lower limbs. The Pablo is a very sophisticated computer program that is responsive to both movement and strength changes in the upper limb. It uses these parameters in training to work on grasp and release, shoulder movement and wrist strength as part of an intensive upper limb training program.
SAEBO FLEX
The hand can be a difficult area to provide good training strategies for following a stroke or brain injury. Devices like the Saebo can facilitate wrist and finger extension to encourage training in grasp and release. In our clinic we have also found this to be very helpful in improving shoulder strength as well. The Saebo needs to be custom fitted for each person and used as part of an intensive upper limb training program.
BIONESS H200
The Bioness is a sophisticated electrical device that can be used to stimulate the muscles in the hand and forearm to help with opening and closing the hand. Used in therapy following a stroke or brain injury, the Bioness can assist with recovery of functional tasks like grasping and releasing objects, opening doors and carrying the shopping. The Bioness needs to be configured for each person and used as part of an intensive upper limb training program.
SAEBO REJOYCE
The Saebo ReJoyce is an upper extremity rehabilitation workstation featuring a computerised task oriented training system that provides standardised upper limb exercises with a strong focus on activities of daily living (ADLs) and fine motor control.
ABLE M and X
The Able system is a clinically proven combination of therapy games designed to accelerate rehabilitation of your arms and hands after a stroke. The ableM arm skate helps to initiate recovery of arm movement and reach. The ableX helps to train unsupported arm movement.
THERATRAINER BIKE
The Theratrainer bike is an exercise bike with a difference. It can be used as an arm crank for the arms, or as bike pedals for the legs. It has an LCD screen that gives great feedback about symmetry from left to right, revolutions per minute, heart rate and much more…even better, it can sense spasms and spasticity and reverse direction.
FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Electrical stimulation machines send an electrical current into muscle to produce a contraction. This can be used to facilitate wrist and finger extension in the hand and forearm. Used for functional training, electrical stimulation devices can help to train grasp and release in very weak muscles or those with significant finger and wrist flexor spasticity.
