Tuesday, November 2, 2010

High-tech rehab at Edmonton's Glenrose



Four months ago, Bill Presiznuik thought life as he knew it was over.
The 65-year-old was at the University of Alberta Hospital in early July recovering from a quadruple bypass when he suffered a stroke a week later, on the day he was to be released.
"I went to the bathroom and all of a sudden I started to trip. I was falling and I knew I couldn't stop myself," said Presiznuik, whose stroke left his left leg and left arm paralyzed.
"I couldn't move a fraction. I figured my life was over with."
Shortly after his stroke, Presiznuik arrived at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital where his life began taking a turn for the better, thanks to a local invention.
The invention, developed by PhD student Michelle Annett, is an interactive tabletop with a touch-sensitive screen like an iPad.
Using the screen, rehabilitation patients can enjoy therapeutic activities such as popping virtual balloons, finger-painting and arranging family pictures. The technology gets patients using upper limb motor therapy to regain strength, co-ordination and reactive skills.
Annett came up with the idea when she was approached by staff at the Glenrose to come up with a low-cost version of a Microsoft surface.
Since its inception in July, nearly 40 patients have benefited from the interactive tabletop therapy.
The technology, which cost $6,000, also allows health professionals to precisely measure a patient's progress because it can track the slightest hand movement and reaction.
Presiznuik said he wakes up every day looking forward to physiotherapy on the interactive tabletop. Now, he's ready to check out of the Glenrose and has regained use of his arm and leg.
"There are times it definitely hurts, but every day you notice something different," said Presiznuik.
pamela.roth@sunmedia.ca

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Different approach to stroke rehabilitation

News Ottawa and Region

Different approach to stroke rehabilitation

By DOUG HEMPSTEAD, OTTAWA SUN
Last Updated: June 3, 2010 7:09pm
Some patients at Bruyere hospital will be part of a new research study to find out if virtual reality video games are an effective means of rehabilitation.Click here to watch the video
Some patients at Bruyere hospital will be part of a new research study to find out if virtual reality video games are an effective means of rehabilitation.
Play Video
Two months ago, encephalitis sufferer Louis Beaulieu wasn’t able to move or talk but Thursday he and his walker were stopping soccer balls.
The rehabilitation program at Elizabeth Bruyere Hospital is home to a new research project — virtual reality video games.
Beaulieu, like many patients requiring physiotherapy, was brought into the second-floor room in Ottawa’s oldest hospital to try out a groundbreaking approach to strength and balance-building exercises — the first of its kind in Canada.
Participants stand up against a green screen and see themselves on a TV in a virtual environment. Beaulieu is a soccer goalie, but other programs are available including snowboarding and surfing.
Medical Director of the stroke rehabilitation program, Dr. Hillel Finestone, said the method hasn’t been tested or proven as effective, and that’s what he and his team are attempting to do over the next few years. The hospital has hired University of Ottawa PHd student Dan McEwen to coordinate the research.
For Beaulieu, physiotherapy at Bruyere has worked better than the medications he was receiving elsewhere.
“They stopped all the medications and this is when I started to make progress,” he said.
Hospital officials are expecting a huge demand so they’re working on adding a second set-up elsewhere in the building. The hospital has launched a fundraising campaign — the $4.5 million Days of Hope, Care & Dignity.
As part of this campaign, local philanthropists, Tony and Elizabeth Graham have donated $270,000 to create the Tony and Elizabeth Graham Virtual Reality Research and Training Centre.
doug.hempstead@sunmedia.ca
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virtual reality for patients




http://www.vizworld.com/2010/03/virtual-worlds-patient-rehabilitation/
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Virtual Reality Physical Therapy


The Best in Virtual Reality Physical Therapy

GestureTek’s Interactive Rehabilitation and Exercise System (IREX®) uses immersive video gesture control technology to place patients into virtual sport or gaming environments where they are guided through clinician prescribed therapeutic exercise regimes. Clinicians can design a fun, interactive exercise program that tests single joints, combined joint movements or full body function.
Patients are immersed in a full-body virtual world where they can interact with on-screen images and objects, designed to enhance the sense of “presence” for the patient. Real-time auditory and visual feedback further stimulates the patient, resulting in improved motivation and effort in rehabilitation exercises. The full IREX system is designed for permanent installations and comes with a green-screen background. A selection of immersive applications from IREX can also be delivered on a portable immersive therapy cart.
The IREX virtual reality environments are specifically designed to rehabilitate the patient in the precise manner recommended by the clinician. The motion of the patient can be monitored and reported to describe functional improvement in the patient’s range of motion, control of motion and balance over the course of their treatment.
The therapist can specify and measure the range of motion, the frequency of successful exercises and number of repetitions completed resulting in:
  • Improved executive functioning
  • Improved cortical reorganization
  • Improved balance and trunk control
  • Improved mobility
  • Increased sense of control, achievement and independence
  • Improved socialization
  • Increased compliance/ adherence
  • Increased enjoyment and desire to engage
  • Pain diversion

All therapy sessions are tracked using the Session Management Tool, a sophisticated camera tracking technology which enables session reporting that can then be used to track and compare patient progress.

What The Research Says:

Medical research confirms that virtual therapy is beneficial for patients with cognitive and physical disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy, autism, Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as those recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injury. As with all GestureTek systems, IREX is completely gesture-controlled and does not require patients to wear, hold or touch anything special, or use any peripheral device. With the system being touch-free, there’s no risk of cross-contamination. All activities are low impact activities and can be made more challenging as patient mobility improves.

What You Get:

With more than 20 virtual environments to choose from, patients can interact and become engaged in various physical activities such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, juggling, playing the drums and snowboarding, while making positive improvements in their mobility. These 20 applications are provided with the system and each can be customized according to the patients’ needs.
IREX APPLICATIONS
ApplicationFunctionBalanceFlexionRotationAbductionLeaningCrouchingExertionFine MotorTiming
Airborne RangersUpper body, arms and shouldersxX  xxx x
Birds and BallsShoulder and armsxX x  xxx
CoconutShoulder and armsx x   xxx
Coconut ShooterLegsxX    x x
ConveyorShoulder, arms and trunkx x   x x
DrumsUpper extremities X    x x
GravballUpper and lower body and armsx   xxx x
JugglerUpper extremitiesxX    xxx
SnowboardingUpper and lower extremitiesx   xxx x
SharkbaitUpper and lower extremitiesx   xxx x
SoccerUpper ExtremitiesxX x  x x
VolleyballFull bodyxX    x x
Formula RacingHead, torso and upper extremitiesx x x x x
Forward Step DownLower extremitiesxX    x x
Forward Step UpLower extremitiesxX    x x
Forward Step Up & OverLower extremitiesxX    x x
Hip AbductionHipx  x  x x
Hip FlexionHip and kneexX    x x
Lateral Step Up & DownLower extremitiesxX    x x
LungeLower extremitiesxX   xx x
Ninja FlipLeg and ankle X x  xxx
SquatLower extremities and kneexX   xx x
Single leg SquatLower extremities and kneexX   xx x

System Components:

All you need is a portable Green Screen or a wall which can be painted with Digi Comp Paint. The system comes with an LCD ceiling-mounted projector, a flat-screen television monitor (32” – 40”), and a green mat or Digi Comp painted floor surface (4’ x 10’), plus all other required equipment.. For a portable solution see our Immersive Therapy Suite.
The Immersive Therapy Suite (ITS) is a complete mobile therapy and entertainment solution that delivers over 20 different immersive applications directly to the patient anywhere in a care facility. The cart can be conveniently moved around to different patient rooms, procedure rooms, therapy rooms or common areas and can be used regardless of whether patients are standing, lying in a bed or sitting in a chair. This versatile virtual reality system gives patients the opportunity to engage in music therapy, become active in virtual play, immerse themselves in a soothing sensory environment or become active in virtual play right from their bedside or while awaiting a procedure.
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