Stroke Hand Recovery Levels Up With Computer Games - Health

Computer games have now leveled up from mere sources of entertainment and networking to medical tools that aid hand recovery of patients who suffered mild stroke. All thanks to doctors and engineers dedicated to help stroke survivors attain mobility.

Move With ARMThe University of Hampton have developed a system called ARM (Assessment, Rehabilitation, Movement) that stroke patients can use with computer games while playing at home. Stroke patients will be retrained with hand and arm functions that have been paralyzed by the stroke. They will be attached with electrodes on their skin that contract appropriate muscles during electrical stimulation.

Once initiated, stroke patients will be able to successfully perform tasks by moving a joystick that will track their movement in a 2-dimensional plane on the computer screen. Stroke patients will do repetitive tasks, which in time, will improve voluntary movement, reduce the need for artificial stimulation, and give a much better chance of recovery.

ARM is based from the idea of industrial robots and the Iterative Learning Control technique to help stroke patients regain the movement and control of their hand and arm. It is the first to provide a thorough method to rehabilitate the upper limbs as most rehabilitation processes focus on the lower limbs or on walking. It is a new technique in control theory that addresses the challenges of rehabilitation through electrical stimulation.

ARM is actually an initiative of therapists, doctors, engineers, and psychologists from the University through the leadership of Dr. Jane Burridge from the School of Health Professions & Rehabilitation Sciences and in partnership with the School of Electronics and Computer Sciences. With their research lasting for 3 years from 2005, ARM now provides hope to stroke survivors--even those who suffered stroke years before.

Retrain With HapticsA similar initiative to ARM was implored by the Houston Rice University under the leadership of mechanical engineer Marcia O'Malley, called Haptics. The only difference is that it gives stroke patients the freedom to move as they please. Haptics relies on the perception of touch, which allows them to feel their environment and be guided with correct movements. It also banks on video game controllers through the use of a joystick.

Play With RutgersUnlike Haptics' joystick therapy and ARM's electrical stimulation, Rutgers developed a rehabilitation system by modifying the Microsoft Xbox video game and teaming it up with the gaming glove of Essential Reality P5. Engineers at Rutgers tinkered with the equipment to work with the glove through a new software that will enable stroke patients to recover hand functions with finger flexing exercises.

Computer games now give joy to stroke patients as they recover from their mild paralysis. It's just really amazing how ordinary computer games can now work for the betterment of man and augment stroke rehabilitation. These computer-aided rehabilitation systems now provide new doors of opportunities for the discovery of other ways of recovering paralysis in other parts of their body.

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