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High-Tech Tools Show Promise for Stroke Recovery

David Tannenbaum, a lawyer turned startup executive, had been in chemotherapy for a brain tumor for almost a year when, in January 2015, he had two strokes that left him partly paralyzed on his right side.

After months of traditional physical therapy, and still partly paralyzed, Mr. Tannenbaum turned to a videogame for help. He used a device at NYU Langone Medical Center in which an interactive, on-screen canoe trip retrains the paralyzed hand and brain in basic movements.

New therapeutic devices for stroke recovery, made possible by advances in hardware and software, are transforming the typically low-tech world of stroke rehabilitation. Though the tools are still…

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Featured

 Exoskeletons for Stroke Rehabilitation

Advances in technology are revolutionizing the rehabilitation process. Robotic exoskeletons used during stroke rehabilitation assist with ambulation during the recovery process by providing earlier mobility and restored independence. Exoskeletons may enhance post-stroke gait training, helping to guide weight shifts and improve step patterns and cadence and enabling individuals to stand and walk over ground early in the recovery process.

 The struggle to create a microchip that can mimic the human brain and open a portal to another world

MindMaze founder Tej Tadi uses VR to rehabilitate the brains of stroke patients. Now he’s creating a microchip that can replicate the way that the brain handles huge amounts of data.

 This smart glove could help stroke patients with their hand movements

EOFECT's RAPAEL Smart Glove is here to help stroke patients with their hand movements by making rehabilitation fun — and easy to keep tabs o. The glove is lightweight, and never misses a movement.

Articles of Interest

'Guitar Hero'-Style Videogame Helps Stroke Victims Recover

Rehabilitating with games is more fun, and it works better.

Accelerating recovery from stroke and spinal cord injuries - research yields new rehabilitation option

Unlike standard treatments, Spinal Reflex Conditioning targets reflex pathways specifically and it produces beneficial plasticity in the abnormal reflex pathways. Patients participate in a training program that produces long-term changes in neuromotor control of functions like walking.

Improving Stroke Rehab, One Monitored Step at a Time

The aim is to see more activity in people who get feedback. To what degree we can do this, and to what scale, remains a work in progress.

Mind-controlled brace helps paralysed stroke patients move their hands

The brace, worn over the hand, can be used to help stroke patients pick up objects.

Paralyzed Patients Regain Partial Movement With Long-Term Brain Training

Therapeutic device could be effective treatment for paralysis.

Resources

Lumosity

Improve your brain health and performance. Build your Personalized Training Program...Enhance memory and attention, Web-based personalized training program, Track changes in brain performance.

Myomo

Arm paralyzed by stroke, injury or disease? Regaining mobility may be possible.

Neofect

Utilizing technology, NEOFECT has constructed a new rehabilitation paradigm that inspires hope for patients in need of rehab. We aim to help patients all around the world including, but not limited to, those unable to receive appropriate treatment due to economic or geographic reasons. By providing rehab training products and services that are available anytime and anywhere, we are committed to improving patient’s rehab experiences and quality of life.

Active Forever

The bedroom can represent the most challenging aspect of independent living, especially when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. Limited strength and hand use can make maintaining one's independence extremely difficult, sometimes even impossible. But with the right products available, stroke survivors can learn to deal with these challenges and still take care of themselves.

Bioness

Helping People Regain Function and Freedom. Are you trying to regain function of your leg or hand due to Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, or other central nervous system disorders? Function, freedom, and mobility are now within reach. Discover the L300 Foot Drop System for people living with foot drop (drop foot), the L300 Plus System for foot drop plus thigh weakness, and the H200 Hand Rehabilitation System for hand paralysis therapy.

Gus Communication Devices

Gus Communication serves people with communication disorders and physical limitations, we are pleased to announce several new products to compliment our existing line of assistive technology products.

Rehabtool.com

Our mission at rehabtool.com is to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their lives, increase their independence and productivity, and gain greater social inclusion through the use of leading-edge assistive technology.

Tobii Dynavox

Our assistive technology devices, software, contents and services give individuals with communication disabilities a voice and a way to live more fulfilled, integrated and independent lives

Vision Key

VisionKey offers hands-free communication for both alternative and augmentative communication and full computer control using only eye movements.