Stroke recovery
Improve mobility with orthotics
A body-hugging robotic suit lets the wearer turn as they walk – a first for this technology. It’s an important step toward finally letting people take home supportive exosuits after injuries, rather than having to stay in
… READ MOREThe biomechanics of bipedal walking are preposterously complex. A French firm claims to have built a robotic suit that can emulate the way we walk. Paris-based startup Wandercraft, which makes a signature robotic exoskeleton that
… READ MOREA physical therapy approach known as neurodevelopmental treatment can improve shaking but not movement in children with cerebral palsy, according to a South Korean study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science. Neurodevelopmental
… READ MOREStudies suggest that ankle foot orthoses can improve balance in some individuals, so it might seem logical that they would also help prevent falls. But the medical literature has yet to reveal a direct connection between AFOs and
… READ MORE“Alexa, let’s walk to the kitchen.” Bionik Laboratories, a Toronto- and Boston-based maker of robotic suits, just announced Amazon Echo integration into its lower-body exoskeleton, which it calls ARKE. By Greg
… READ MOREIt was Father’s Day, back in June 1998, when the life of David Andrews was abruptly turned upside down. The Vancouver engineer had just returned home after a long walk with his wife Merylin. He was chasing his dog, who was poking
… READ MOREA person’s testimony doesn’t always agree with objective evidence—that’s why some defense attorneys won’t allow their clients to take the stand during a trial, even in their own defense. Similarly, as most clinicians know,
… READ MOREGiven the heterogeneity of many patient populations for whom ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are indicated, it’s not surprising that AFO experts are at the forefront of the current trend favoring customization of devices to meet
… READ MOREAssessing device alignment is a key aspect of prosthetic practice, but when it comes to lower extremity orthotics the process is less common. That’s changing, however, as researchers begin to document the effects of alignment on
… READ MOREA soft wearable robotic suit promotes normal walking in stroke patients, opening new approaches to gait re-training and rehabilitation. Conor Walsh and his Graduate Student Jaehyun Bae fine-tuning an ankle-assisting exosuit. Fred
… READ MOREAI can help patients recover ability to stand and walk. When training to regain movement after stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI), patients must once again learn how to keep their balance during walking movements. Current clinical
… READ MOREGait speed linked to braking force. Rigid ankle foot orthoses increase gait speed in hemiplegic stroke patients, but not for the reasons one might think, according to research from the Kessler Foundation Research Center in New Jersey.
… READ MOREImproved mobility with ankle foot orthoses and other devices can help patients experience the multiple health benefits of increased physical activity. But aggressive activity goals— including the oft-cited target of 10,000 steps per
… READ MOREDevice reads brain signals, converts them into motion. Stroke patients who learned to use their minds to open and close a device fitted over their paralyzed hands gained some control over their hands, according to a new study from
… READ MOREInfluence of arthritis greater than heart disease or diabetes. One in four older adults reported having difficulty walking, with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip having a larger influence on this than comorbidities such as
… READ MORERobert Bush has multiple sclerosis (MS), which sapped his ability to walk five years ago. Joseph McGlynn suffered a stroke that seriously impaired his left side, also five years ago. Neural stimulation helps Joseph McGlynn, left, who
… READ MOREA new, first-of-its-kind app is now available to support clinicians with decisions on best practice rehabilitation strategies for patients with arm impairment due to stroke. Easily find the right therapy for your patients’ goals
… READ MORESkill transfer between body parts reflects plasticity of brain’s organization, researchers say. Training at tasks with your hands stimulates the areas of the motor cortex that controls your feet. Pexels Photo Rachel Butch, Johns
… READ MOREPhysiatrist Pablo Celnik is accustomed to getting referrals for sophisticated patients. What he is not used to is receiving referrals for patients accompanied by a film crew—until now, that is. Dr. Pablo Celnik. The Human Brain
… READ MOREAdjusting the mechanical properties, alignment, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion resistance of a novel ankle-foot orthosis improved hemiparetic gait in a patient with stroke, according to data presented at the American Academy of
… READ MOREDecisions related to the stiffness of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO)—whether they involve device design or the materials from which it’s fabricated—can help lower extremity clinicians customize stability, biomechanics, and muscle
… READ MOREQuality improvement program cuts time for life-saving drug treatment from 70 to 36 minutes. Alberta’s stroke treatment centres are now among the fastest in the world in giving patients a clot-busting drug that can save lives,
… READ MOREThe Falls Risk Assessment Toolkit identifies patients at risk of falls and, potentially unplanned hospital admissions, and is available to all UK healthcare professionals to implement a review of patients at risk of potentially
… READ MOREStructured exercise training can significantly improve brain function in stroke survivors, according to research presented at the International Stroke Conference 2017. American Heart Association, MedicalXpress February 22, 2017
… READ MOREThere are tantalising signs that, as well as aiding rehabilitation, devices could soon help humans run faster and jump higher. A Fundamental Jump in Exoskeleton Tech. Roam Robotics hopes to use pneumatics and lightweight materials to
… READ MOREOne in every 1,000 babies suffer from a stroke either in utero or shortly after birth. Edmonton researchers are trying to help those young child stroke patients regain mobility and learn how to walk. Linda Hoang with files from Carmen
… READ MOREHelping patients manage an orthotic device can be challenging, but doing so in the face of uneven terrain is a balancing act between stability, mobility, and strength. Device adjustments and rehabilitation protocols can help
… READ MOREFunctional balance test scores rise. Use of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) within six weeks of stroke results in better balance outcomes and earlier independent ambulation than if AFO use is delayed, according to research from the
… READ MOREInterview with Paul Gudonis, CEO of Myomo. The MyoPro has been used to assist individuals with paralysis due to a variety of neurological injuries and disorders, and the VA has approved it for US veterans with upper limb impairment.
… READ MORELike a power assist bicycle, but for your aching joints. Wearable tech is often geared toward the super-fit or the able-bodied, whether it’s tracking intense activities or your basic daily step count, but one company in Silicon
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