Movement and Strength of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is defined as non-progressive lesions or damages in the brain at or before birth, leading to impairments in movement and posture.

These impairments vary from person to person, but the majority of children with cerebral palsy experience differences in muscle strength which can lead to many functional challenges throughout their lives.

As discussed in the article above, strength training in children with cerebral palsy has been shown to be beneficial particularly in improving their motor activity. In can be confusing for caregivers to objectively determine what type and frequency of strength training activity would be helpful. Evaluations such as the Pediatric Functional Muscle Test can be useful for clinicians and therapists but has limited information and applications for continued training.
It is important to know the basic principles of strength training with children with cerebral palsy before starting any program.

Strength training for children with cerebral palsy

1. Repetition!
   Children with cerebral palsy often have difficulty activating certain muscle groups. In order to effectively strengthen these muscle groups, training should focus on repetition of postures or activities that encourage movement in these areas.

2. Find the right tools!
   In order for a training program to be effective the child needs to be able to understand and engage in the instructed movements.

3. Positioning!
   Engaging in the activity with good posture will enhance the effectiveness of the training

The “RAPAEL Smart Kids”, was specifically developed for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. The light weight silicone design attaches easily to the wrist and hand without strain or irritation to the child. The dynamic programming motivates kiddos to consistently want to train by maintaining their enthusiasm through the use of gaming. Caregivers and therapists can access objective measures of the child’s progress through detailed results of each game based training activity. The intelligent algorithm allows the software to adapt programming sequences to the individual user’s needs. Check out the website for more information on the Rapael Smart Kids and similar products.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
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-Phone: (888) 623-8984

What is Ministroke or TIA?

The term “ministroke” is the common nickname of a transient ischemic attack(TIA). A TIA is a temporary blood flow irruption to part of the brain. Even if ministroke sounds like it’s not a severe health problem, around 1 in 3 people who experience a ministroke experience a major stroke within a year. S

What’s the difference between mini-stroke and regular stroke?
A TIA and stroke are basically the same but the symptoms of TIA are temporary, lasting only a few minutes to 24 hours. A TIA is often an early warning sign of a stroke as the risk of true stroke is very high within 48 hours after a TIA.

FAST: warning signs of a stroke
FAST is an abbreviation to catch the symptoms of a stroke in a person.

What are the symptoms of a ministroke?
TIA symptoms are very similar to those of stroke:

• sudden numbness or weakness on the right or left side of the face, arm, or leg
• trouble speaking or understanding
• difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
• loss of balance or coordination

What should we do if you have any of these symptoms?
If you have any of these symptoms, you should NOT wait until it’s gone. Do not hesitate to go to a hospital and get an urgent medical examination. Several options are available for TIAs but, if a TIA evolved to a stroke, only limited options will be left and the stroke may result in permanent damage.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
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-Phone: (888) 623-8984

The pressures of managing an increasingly challenging work-life balance take its toll on our mental health. And the resulting stress can lead to some serious problems — one of them being an increased risk of suffering a stroke!

How Does Stress Increase Your Chances Of A Stroke?

Scientists have found that people who have heightened activity in the amygdala — the part of the brain commonly linked to stress — are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. It contributes to aggravating health risks like hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, etc. These health issues are categorized as ‘high risk factors’ for a stroke.

It has been found in a study that stress apparently raises the risk of a Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) by 59%. A TIA is a mini-stroke caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain.

Additionally, stress leads to developing harmful habits like smoking, which is again a well-established risk factor for a stroke.

How Does A Stroke Happen?

There are two kinds of strokes that could happen!

1. Hemorrhagic Stroke:
Bleeding in the brain causes this kind of stroke. A weak spot in the wall of the vessel can, in turn, cause an aneurysm (bulging of the vessel wall). The vessels can become weak also by chronic high blood pressure and sometimes, they break from the force.

When the vessel breaks, the blood leaks into surrounding tissue. It thereby hampers the passage of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

2. Ischemic Stroke:
This happens because of blocked arteries, which can be caused owing to a buildup of cholesterol.

It should be noted, that a person who has a comparatively healthy lifestyle and has the right body weight, will be able to handle periodic high stress, without much of a problem.

But, if the stress becomes chronic, it can cause a stroke. For people who already have major health issues, stress can be a highly probable cause for stroke. A person who is genetically predisposed to hypertension, diabetes, obesity etc, is also at a higher risk for stroke caused by stress.

What Exactly Happens During Stress?

Chronic stress results in continuous high levels of cortisol and other stress hormones. This can cause retention of salt, which will then increase the bodily blood pressure. With time, this causes stress on blood vessels.

Stress can also cause blood sugar to increase, due to which the vessels can’t dilate or contract to control blood flow better.

Disruption in sleep cycles can be a result of increased levels of cortisol. Fatigue is the natural progression to this. Thereby, a person might exercise and eat poorly. This is a vicious cycle that can cause any of the various health issues that are responsible for strokes.

How To Find Out If You Are Stressed?

People usually ignore stress and don’t take the necessary steps to deal with it. At the same time, it is impossible to measure the levels of stress — it depends entirely on the tolerance levels of a person!

Some could be stressed owing to the pressures of a job, or some could be facing the stress of dealing with difficult relationships. The extent to which one can handle it determines the severity of stress.

However, you could pay attention to these subtle signs, to know if you are stressed!

• Do your family members and close friends keep asking you if you are stressed?
• Do you find yourself at odds with them, more frequently?
• Have you stopped doing things that used to make you happy?
• Do you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep, compared to your normal patterns?
• Do you delay getting out of bed, especially if you know the day is going to be stressful?
• Do you find an increase in the number of cigarettes you smoke or has your intake of alcohol suddenly increased?

If you find yourself nodding to most or all of these questions, it might be time to take a step back and look for ways to manage the stress, before it causes some serious trouble!

How To Get Rid Of The Stress?

Here are some habits you can implement in your day-to-day life to ensure that you aren’t too stressed!

1. Exercise!
People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety as against people who don’t. Exercise helps release endorphins, which improve your mood and act as natural painkillers. Exercising regularly can also help regulate your sleep patterns, and boost your confidence by improving your overall appearance!

2. Maintain A Healthy Diet!
Make sure your diet includes a healthy mix of green leafy vegetables, water, and less caffeine. High doses of coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks can increase anxiety! Test your sensitivity to caffeine before cutting down on it entirely.

3. Laugh… A Lot!
Laughing can help relieve tension by relaxing the muscles. In the long term too, laughter can improve your immune system and mood.

A study among people with cancer found that people in the laughter intervention group experienced more stress relief than those who were simply distracted.

4. Spend Time With Family and Friends!
Having a rich social life can alleviate stress. Spending time with the people you love releases oxytocin that is a natural stress reliever!

5. Learn To Say No!
Not all factors causing stress are within your control. But, you can always try to be selective of the responsibilities you take on, especially when it comes to work. Taking on more than you can handle, and then trying to juggle it all successfully, can cause a lot of stress.

6. Be Mindful Of Procrastination!
Prioritize your tasks — and stay on top of it! Prepare a to-do list every day, and give yourself realistic deadlines. This way you can avoid the last-minute stress of trying to get too much done in a short period!

7. Cultivate Hobbies!
Having hobbies can give you the much-needed break from the routine, and refresh your mind. Often, distraction is the best remedy for stress. Listening to music, some light reading, painting, or something you enjoy doing, can work wonders for your stress levels!

8. Get A Pet!
If you aren’t allergic to fur, you can always think of getting a pet. Pets can be incredible stress relievers. They keep you active and provide companionship, which can improve your mood by leaps and bounds!

Do not deprive yourself of anything, but make sure your body and mind do not fall into the trap of chronic stress. If you feel that the stress you face in your life is bogging you down, seek help. Pronto. You can lower the risk of getting a stroke by about 24%!!

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
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-Phone: (888) 623-8984

If you or a loved one has had a stroke, you likely know that there can be some misinformation or misunderstandings about the facts surrounding stroke and stroke recovery.

The 4 Most Misunderstood Myths About Stroke and Stroke Recovery

1. The window of recovery for motor function is limited to 6 months and then “what you have is what you’ll get”. It’s amazing that even as we know more about brain science and neuroplasticity, there are still some medical professionals that believe that there is a hard stop to motor recovery at a certain time. Cortical reorganization is at its peak shortly after a stroke, and that window of prior to 12 weeks is most promising for spontaneous recovery, however, improvements have been shown with engaging, intense and repetitious programs, including the Smart Glove, after as many as 15 years!

2. Watch out, you might “overdo” it when doing your rehab, take it easy! While it’s true that fatigue can be a factor in stroke recovery, we do know that there is more evidence that supports a dose-response relationship of motor recovery. Typically, the more repetitions and intensity that a stroke recovery program entails, the better motor outcomes and more improvement you’ll see, particularly in your hand and arm function. That said, do listen to your fatigue as well as any discomfort as part of your program. Report any new aches and pains to your therapist and physician.

3. No pain, no gain! While this might apply to body building or heavy workouts, it does not apply in the same way to stroke recovery. Listen to your body’s signals that it might be in distress. Pain, particularly pain in the upper extremity, including the shoulder, is important to be aware of to avoid any tissue damage. Use the range of motion exercises and activities from your therapists in order to stay flexible and avoid activity related pain or discomfort.

4. Strokes only happen to “old” people. Stroke doesn’t discriminate and people of any age can have a stroke...from babies in utero, to young children, adolescents, adults and older adults as well.

The RAPAEL Smart Rehab programs are designed to work with and for individuals at any age and stage of recovery after stroke, from our Smart Kids device for little ones, Smart Glove for older adolescents and adults, Smart Board for shoulder and reach retraining and Smart Pegboard for fine motor training, we have a solution to fit your home rehab needs. Check out all the RAPAEL rehabilitation tools HERE to see how they might benefit you or a loved one!

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Major countries including U.S., Europe, Japan, and South Korea are focusing on policy capacities to their industrial development and investments in R&D in order to utilize active use of big data, ICT and Artificial Intelligence (AI), providing patients with innovative healthcare services, such as robotic care and personalized healthcare.

Global Trend of Artificial Intelligence Healthcare

1. US
The United States, a world-leading country in the field of AI, is promoting policies for research and development of AI at the government level and is focusing particularly on personalized medical innovation, which utilizes AI through the “Precision Medicine Initiative”. In 2015, the United States announced the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) as a healthcare project for the next generation. The PMI is a new approach to promote a personalized disease treatment and preventive measure by taking account of the difference between patient’s genetic information, environment, lifestyle, etc. in a systematic manner. The United States is increasing its investments at the government level to promote PMI, and is reinforcing its cooperation with universities and enterprises to lead the market in the global healthcare industry.

2. Europe
Europe is promoting the establishment of platforms for medical informatics and the provision of precision medicine with reinforced genomic analysis with plans to make active applications of AI technology in such fields. Platforms for medical informatics utilize IT, big data and AI Technology to analyze various forms of data collected from medical institutions, such as hospitals, public institutions, health service centres, etc., and apply them to diagnosing, preventing and developing new treatment methods and drugs for diseases affecting the brain. Among the EU countries, the United Kingdom is intensifying its efforts in the development of big data for precise medicine R&D and investments in the application of AI genomic analysis by investing 300 million pounds in the 100,000 Genomes Project for cancer and infectious disease treatment.

An AI Healthcare example would be RAPAEL. RAPAEL is a personalized rehabilitation solution which accumulates users’ data in its own cloud system to analyze the data with AI technology. RAPEL’s AI system consistently measures patients’ conditions and suggests level-matching training game content. Also, it provides optimized reports to users and therapists at the same time so that they can utilize the reports as rehabilitation indicators regardless of time and place. RAPAEL enables patients to enjoy their rehabilitation at any time and any place.

RAPAEL is developed with major hospitals and rehab experts over North America, Europe, and Asia. The RAPAEL rehab programs are considered trustworthy and are on sale worldwide including the U.S. To learn more about RAPAEL with a free consultation please click here: Home.neofect.com.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Reference:
“Insight Report- Industrial Ecology and Developing Trend of AI Health Care.” ITFIND, www.itfind.or.kr/publication/regular/periodical/read.do?selectedId=02-001-170123-000011.

A Grasp Assist Device Gets Ready to Make a Debut!

The hand is involved for so much of our daily, routine and meaningful activities that it’s difficult to imagine how to manage without the functional use of a hand. For individuals that have lost hand function due to an illness or injury, those functions that some of us take for granted, including grasping an object to pick it up or keeping a hand securely on an object for self care or leisure, can become very frustrating.

NEOFECT, the creators of other rehabilitation tools such as the Smart Glove, Smart Board and Smart Pegboard, have created a tool to assist! The NeoMano is a soft, wearable robotic glove that allows for grasp of everyday objects using the thumb post and the pointer and middle fingers with use of titanium wires and a small motor and battery pack. The controller that allows for closure and release of the fingers is wireless, which is a new feature based on user feedback and function. The controller can be placed on the table, on a band attached to the arm, belt or wheelchair or on a belt clip for user accessibility.

We recently did a video shoot to get ready to launch our Kickstarter campaign, which starts on October 30th. See some of our behind the scenes pictures and user profiles to get an idea of how the NeoMano might work for you or someone you know that has challenges with hand function.

Remember to join our email list in order to receive regular updates on our progress and to become a backer on the Kickstarter campaign in order to help bring this important device to those in need! Visit neofect.neomano.com to sign up!

Mark, one of our test users, has ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) which impairs the use of his left hand and arm. He and his occupational therapist, Kenny, use the NeoMano device to assist Mark in grasping a water bottle prior to his exercise routine. Mark also uses the NeoMano for maintaining grasp on his elliptical machine, walking the dog, holding and stabilizing objects. Mark is excited to be able to use the NeoMano regularly to allow him to continue to participate in his active lifestyle with as much independence as possible.

Rachel has also been involved in the prototype testing of our NeoMano device. Rachel has a C4 ASIA A spinal cord injury and continues to work to improve her upper body function. She is an accomplished photographer and uses the NeoMano to hold her iphone in order to take pictures as well as other everyday tasks like writing and eating. Rachel is able to access the switch for the NeoMano from the table or the armrest of her wheelchair to control the grasp and release.

NeoMano Kickstater begins on October 30th, 2018. Please subscribe NeoMano newsletter on neomano.neofect.com

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Back to School: Keeping up with your Child’s Hemiparesis Exercises

Back to school can bring a variety of challenges for any family. I can be even more complicated for caregivers of children with hemiparesis. Between school work, extracurriculars, sports or chores, the day can become full very quickly. Many parents report that it can be hard to find time to keep up with the daily home exercise programs prescribed by their therapists. A recent study of parents in 18 different out-patient facilities showed that about 1/3 of families don’t follow their home exercise programs, which can undermine therapeutic progress.
Check out these useful tips to help keep your kiddo on track with their rehabilitation exercises even after the school year starts.

Tips for kid's rehabilitation exercises

• Make it fun – anyone with a child knows that you can’t force them to pay attention to anything for very long if they aren’t interested, but therapy time can fly by when they are having fun. Get them excited to use their affected arm by incorporating it into game play. The competition and challenge inherent in games has also been shown to increase motivation and engagement.

• Keep track of progress - Both adults and kiddos like to know when they are making progress. By documenting even subtle increases in ability, Kiddos can start share in the pride and self-efficacy that comes from accomplishing a goal.

• Keep the challenge just right - Make sure the expectations you have for your child are realistic and appropriate for their age, condition and developmental capacity. Avoid boredom or burnout by working with your therapist to ensure that any home program is tailored to your kiddo’s level of ability.

• Set aside time - If exercise isn’t built into a routine it almost always gets forgotten. Be realistic about how much time you and your kiddo actually have to devote to home exercises and try to keep it consistent.

• Prepare the body and the mind - Don’t underestimate how much the environment can affect your kiddo. When getting ready to exercise the affected arm, reduce excess stimulation such as loud or distracting music or lighting. Talk to your therapist about providing some preparatory sensory grounding strategies prior to exercises.

• Reward and Praise - Most kiddos respond well to structured goal attainment. Sticker charts with weekly awards for completing home exercise sessions can be effective. Remind your little one of the amazing job they are doing by pointing out areas of growth and achievement and link it to their hard work during exercise time.

The Rapael smart glove and smart kids use gaming software and state of the art equipment to provide a virtual reality home therapy program that is tailored to the needs of your kiddo. Devices like these can keeps things fun thus taking a lot of the work out of encouraging your child to use their affected arm and hand to exercise.

Through the built-in sensors the device can detect and record an enormous amount of data including changes in range of motion as well as speed and accuracy of response. This allows kiddos to keep up with any progress in real time. The gamified platform provides rewards and markers of achievement that encourage continued engagement. Using the artificial intelligence backed learning algorithm, each session is automatically tailored to your kiddo’s ability ensuring that no game is too hard or too easy. Check out all the RAPAEL rehabilitation tools HERE to see if it is a good fit for the child in your life!

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Many people get discharged from an inpatient rehab setting and are told that they will receive home health services when they return home. However many people do not fully understand what home health entails, why they qualified and how long they are eligible for these services.

What Services can Home Health Care Provide?

• Intermittent nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Home health aide ( assists with activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting and getting dressed ect.)
• Social services
• Medical supplies

How does one Qualify for Home Health Services?

In order to qualify for home health services under Medicare guidelines one must be under the care of a doctor who certifies that they need at least one of the following services:

• Intermittent nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Continued occupational therapy (Can only have occupational therapy if it is in conjunction with another service.)
• Home health aide
• Social services

One must also be homebound. Homebound is defined by Medicare as having difficulties leaving the home without the the help of an assistive device such as cane, walker or wheelchair because of an illness or injury.

**How long is one eligible for home health services? **

Home health services will continue as long as your therapist and doctors feel as if it is medically necessary or until your insurance company tells you otherwise. If your insurance company or therapist tells you it is time to discharge and you feel as if it is too early, you do have the right to appeal.

Home health therapist typically only come 2-3 times per week. A great way to stay involved with your therapy everyday is by using the RAPAEL Smart glove or Smart Board. To learn more about our virtual reality RAPAEL Smart Rehab products, visit rapaelhome.com or call us at 888-623-8984.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Various neurologic or orthopedic conditions can result in a condition of the lower extremity called foot drop. Foot drop occurs when changes in muscle tone in the foot and leg affect coordination and strength resulting in an inability to flex the ankle or lift the forefoot.

It is important to treat footdrop. Why?

A small thing like not being able to tap your toes can seem inconsequential but, if left untreated, can lead to gait abnormalities, injury to the foot or leg, increased fall risk, or postural deformity. In order to compensate for poor foot control, people with foot drop adopt compensatory movements, such as excessively lifting at the hip or over-flexing the knee ― a pattern known as steppage gait. This gait pattern can lead to cascading compensatory postures throughout the body, which can lead to pain or impairments in other areas.

Decreased sensation in the foot often accompanies foot drop. As a result, when individuals with foot drop scuff their toes along the ground or bump against objects in their path, they can injure themselves without being aware. These small injuries can become worse with repetition or lead to infection.

How can I improve my foot drop?

Foot drop can be mild to severe, unilateral or bilateral. The first line of treatment often involves the use of a foot drop brace. The NEOFECT Drop Foot Brace is an ankle and foot brace that maintains foot dorsiflexion and prevents the foot from inverting during gait. With its ergonomic design, the brace helps individuals to walk more naturally by assisting with lifting the toes and keeping the ankle in alignment.

Different strap tensions are available to increase ankle stability. 3 high tension straps and 1 low tension strap provides appropriate support to improve gait. A 2mm foot pad provides support to keep the toes from clawing during walking. Compare to other foot drop splints, the NEOFECT Drop Foot brace is made of fabric material which is easier to wear and accommodates socks and shoes. The open heel design allows for increased sensation and motion during gait and activities of daily living.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

What is NeoMano?

NeoMano is a wearable, soft robotic hand created by NEOFECT that enables and empowers people with hand paralysis to perform daily activities. It fits over the thumb, index, and middle finger while leaving the other fingers and part of the hand uncovered. With the use of NeoMano, people with hand paralysis have the ability to move their fingers in order to perform daily activities like hold and drink a cup of water, brush their teeth, or turn a doorknob to open a door. It does this by providing an active grasp to maintain grip, followed by passive release. NeoMano helps gain independence and confidence in performing everyday tasks for people who have lost hand function from spinal cord injury, nerve injuries or other neurologic or orthopedic conditions.

NeoMano and User-Centered Design

NeoMano was recently presented at the American Congress of Rehab Medicine conference in Dallas in a seminar entitled, “User-Centered Design of Technologies for Rehabilitation: A Discussion and Demonstration.”

Lauren Sheehan, Occupational Therapist and Senior Clinical Manager, discussed how user-centered design, involving the end user in the design process and continuing to make changes to the product based on user needs, has been utilized throughout the process of development of the NeoMano.

▲ A potential user is testing a prototype of NeoMano.

“It has been very important to us to involve potential users in every step of the process, redesign, new features, and our final prototype,” says Lauren.

“We want to ensure that the NeoMano is well understood and that the expectations for what the device can do, as well as what it isn’t capable of, are clear for the maximum benefit of the end user.”

The NeoMano is best suited for someone with close to full range of motion in their fingers but who lack strength and stamina to grip and maintain grasp. The glove is remotely controlled by a Bluetooth switch that can be accessed from a variety of different positions including from a wheelchair armrest, tabletop or belt clip. Our NeoMano trial users have utilized the device for a range of activities including eating, holding and opening containers, pouring water, maintaining grasp for exercise and other leisure activities such as golf.

Sign up for updates!

Be sure to sign up for our updates and the launch of our Kickstarter on October 30th so you can help bring NeoMano to people who need it! Neomano.neofect.com

Check out NeoMano in the news:

• CNET, "NeoMano robotic glove helps paralyzed hands move again"
• Engadget, "NeoMano is an everyday robotic glove for patients with paralysis"
• Tech Crunch, "The NeoMano robotic glove brings control back to paralyzed hands"

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
-Home.neofect.com
-Phone: (888) 623-8984

Following the previous content, the Artificial Intelligence(AI) healthcare trend in Japan and South Korea will be discussed here.

1. Japan
Japan is committed to providing personalized healthcare service by strategizing in genomic analysis and AI-applied robots. In 2015, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development promoted “The Realization of Genome Medicine” to provide patients with an optimally personalized healthcare service by utilizing genetic information. Moreover, Japan is promoting the application of AI in various healthcare fields such as health diagnosis service utilizing IoT and caregiver service through application of robots and sensors, as a part of its “Japan Revitalization Strategy” announced in 2015.

2. South Korea
In 2016, South Korea announced its roadmap for technological development in precision medicine and future healthcare, setting directions for policies in improving precision medicine and AI healthcare. South Korea is concentrating on its investments in predicting diseases and providing personalized healthcare service particularly through establishing and applying big data regarding health insurance and medical information structured broadly throughout the country. Moreover, South Korea established a fundamental direction for the growth of AI healthcare industry by choosing AI-applied precision medicine in healthcare sectors as one of its national strategic projects.

AI Home rehab solution

Rehabilitation experts from the U.S., Germany, and South Korea are working on providing personalized home rehabilitation solutions for stroke patients― RAPAEL Home. RAPAEL collects and analyzes users’ information using AI to suggest proper level of rehabilitation game programs.

This smart solution also shares training results with patients and therapists via its own clouds system. The users can utilize the reports as rehabilitation motivation indicators. Forbes says RAPAEL Smart Glove speeds rehabilitation of stroke patients by adding gamification elements to keep patients engaged and maintain interest in the repetitive rehabilitation exercises.

Learn more and get a free consultation from RAPAEL Home.

Reference:
“[Insight Report] Industrial Ecology and Developing Trend of AI Health Care.” ITFIND, www.itfind.or.kr/publication/regular/periodical/read.do?selectedId=02-001-170123-000011.

According to the National Stroke Association, 795,000 American adults each year suffer from a stroke during their life. Of this 795,000, 65% of them require some sort of therapy after a stroke. Many people suffer from hemiparesis or muscles weakness after a stroke. In order to regain range of motion and strength in the affected limb, it is important that one starts doing therapy soon after the stroke. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself by finding alternative pathways for the area of the brain that was damaged secondary to a stroke. In order for the brain to rewire itself, it is important to perform repetitive movements.

How to Motivate Stroke Rehab Therapy

Although therapy is very important, it can be repetitive and boring at times. However, recent technology has changed that! RAPAEL Rehab Solutions has found a way to make therapy fun and motivating. The RAPAEL Smart Glove and Smart Board provide virtual reality gamified activities that allows for hundreds of repetitions of movements in the upper extremities in order to help the brain rewire itself to increase range of motion and strength.

One of our current users states, “After using the Smart glove for 2 months, I have already noticed functional gains when I am performing everyday tasks such as washing the dishes.”

AI Stroke Rehab Solution

RAPAEL Smart Glove and Smart Board use artificial intelligence (AI), which allows the computer to generate an algorithm based on the clients needs and abilities. The RAPAEL Smart Glove and Smart Board can be used in a therapy clinic with a therapist or from a client’s home. The Smart Glove and Smart Board both have sensors that are able to measure the clients movements in order to track progress.

Technology does not only make therapy more motivating and fun, it also allows for therapist and clients to accurately track progress. To find out more about the RAPAEL Smart Glove and Smart Board, please call us at 888-623-8947 or email us at contactus@neofect.com.

About two-thirds of stroke survivors receive some type of rehabilitation services. Depending on the level of medical care required, a patient can receive inpatient, outpatient, or home therapy.

• The primary goal of inpatient rehab is to return the patient to their home environment in a safe manner as independently as possible. Outpatient rehab is aimed to assist patients with reintegrating into the community.
• Home therapy will be recommended if the patients have difficulties getting in and out of their home as well as with performing activities of daily living within their home. Home care therapist will work with the patient in their own home in order to assist the patient with becoming more independent and safe in their own environment.
• Outpatient therapy will be recommended once the patient is safe and independent within their own home. Outpatient therapy focuses on higher level skills in order to increase the patient's independence within the community and in their daily routines.

Repetition: The Key to Quickest Improvement

The key to the quickest improvement following a stroke is training repetitions. The ideal length of a rehab session in order to maximize functional improvement after stroke or brain injury is 80 minutes per day according to a recent research(Schneider et al, 2016). Regardless of outpatient vs. home care services, it is very important to exercise 80 minutes per day in order to allow for the correct amount of repetitions.

Able to Improve Even 20 Years After Stroke

Lauren Sheehan, Senior Clinical Therapist at NEOFECT stated, “a research revealed that patients can achieve improvements even 20 years after their incident with therapy devices such as the RAPAEL Smart Glove.”

RAPAEL Home: Rahab Therapy Anywhere, At Anytime

International clinical experts with years of patient care experience specializing in strokes have developed RAPAEL Home ― an at-home rehab platform that enables you to receive therapy anywhere and at anytime.

• With various gamified contents, patients can be more engaged and motivated while performing their rehab program. CNN journalist, Selena Larson mentions that the glove helps patients perform repetitive movements in the forearm, wrist, and fingers while keeping it fun and motivating by utilizing activities such as playing cards, pouring wine, or tossing a baseball.
• Patients’ families can assist the patients with the RAPAEL Home program. Patients and their families can work with their therapist to set goals. And RAPAEL’s cloud system allows patients and their families to share how they are progressing with their therapist.

According to Stanford Medical Center, “All patients agreed that they liked the glove and most of them were strongly satisfied with their overall experience...Patients can use the Neofect device for home therapy with high satisfaction.”
Milissa Louwart, a user of RAPAEL Home says, “My favorite thing about the RAPAEL program is that I can do it at home at my convenience and it is very entertaining. I have noticed that it’s benefiting my flexibility and decreasing the spasticity in my wrist and hand.”

Please visit the RAPAEL Home website for more information and resources about the program.

*RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
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You may be wondering if you are likely to have a stroke in the future. Well, there is no way to determine for sure who will and who will not have a stroke. However, we do know that certain people are at greater risk than others. You may also be wondering if you can control your risk of having a stroke by exercising or changing your diet. The answer is complicated because there are many factors that contribute into why one may have a stroke, some are controllable and some are not.

6 Controllable factors

that can put you at a higher risk for stroke are: increased blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, drinking, and obesity. It is very important for people that exhibit these conditions to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating healthy. Increased blood pressure is the leading cause of myocardial infarction, angina, renal insufficiency, and stroke. 20-30% of the total population presents with high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increases the risk of stroke by 4 times the rate of a person with healthy blood pressure.
Many people have high blood pressure but are unaware because they don't exhibit any symptoms however, uncontrolled high blood pressure can gradually narrow arteries and limit the blood flow. High blood pressure can eventually cause a blockage or cause a ruptures which ultimately can cause a stroke.
Therefore it is very important to have regular check ups in order to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Average healthy blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg.. Blood pressure can be controlled by exercise, eating healthy and losing weight. By maintaining a healthy blood pressure, you lower your chances of having a stroke.

3 Uncontrollable factors

that can increase your chance of having a stroke are: age, gender and family history.

● Age: For every 10 years starting from the age of 5, your risk increases.
● Gender: Men are more likely to have a stroke than women
● Family history: A person who has the family history of stroke is more likely to have a stroke than someone who has no family history.

However, it doesn’t necessarily mean every stroke is hereditary. Ruptured cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation, superabundant coagulation are likely to be inherited and uncontrollable but very rare. A family with the same daily habits is likely to have similar diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, which can cause a stroke but can be controlled.

Though it’s not possible to control all the risk factors of a stroke, we must try to lower the risk of stroke by taking care of the controllable factors. Please visit NEOFECT website for more information about stroke.

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Exercise can help you live longer and can lower your risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. After analyzing data from 1.2 million people in the United States, a recent study found that those who exercised 45 minutes, three to five times per week resulted in improved overall mental health as well. “Even just walking three times a week seems to increase one's overall mental health,” said Dr Adam Chekroud, a researcher of this project.

Why You Should Exercise After a Stroke

Another research study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that aerobic exercises appear to improve a person’s cognitive function and resistance training appears to enhance a person’s executive function and memory. The research concluded that 45 minutes to an hour of moderate-to-vigorous exercise was good for the brain.

With Exercises, Can the Brain Heal Itself after a Stroke?

Indeed, exercise can change the structure and function of the brain. Researchers from New Mexico Highlands University found that when one is walking, the impact that one's foot makes with the ground sends waves through the arteries which increase blood flow to the brain. Blood flow to the brain assists with bringing the brain oxygen and nutrients, which will help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, slow brain aging by 10 years, and improve the brain by creating new brain cells. It also triggers the release of mood-enhancing chemical― endorphins.

Stay Active After a Stroke

A research study that was conducted on 1.2 million people in the U.S. has found that even doing something as simple as daily household chores can lower one's chances of presenting with signs of poor mental health by 10% per month. The research states that “exercise” can be considered physical activities, such as childcare, housework, lawn-mowing, carpentry, fishing, and or yoga.

Get Some Help by Utilizing Smart Devices

By utilizing smart rehab devices, you can also shorten your road to recovery. RAPAEL Home offers various stroke recovery programs aiming to assist stroke survivors with regaining independence with their activities of daily living. RAPAEL provides gamified programs that focus on the active movement of the affected arm/hand. With RAPAEL, patients can partake in motivating and fun rehabilitation through various training games designed for improvements of active range of motion and ability to control the affected arm/hand. RAPAEL consists of an algorithm which automatically adjusts to the optimal level of difficulty as you play to balance challenge and motivation. RAPAEL adjusts the game's difficulty level in accordance with the user’s current status, which allows personalized training. To learn more, please visit RAPAEL Home website.

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Depression and anxiety are common side effects experienced by many stroke patients. These effects can be heightened due to worries surrounding reintegrating back into everyday life when physical or mental abilities have changed. For these patients, it can be extremely beneficial to remember to attend to their mental health needs.

Psychological care is more about understanding and offering timely support

Dr Posy Knights from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has stated that psychological care is less about ‘fixing’ and more about understanding and offering timely support. Support can come in many forms and is no longer limited to traditional “therapy.” Thus, it is important for patients to realize that they are not alone. Thousands of people around the world have experienced and adjusted to the changed that can occur after a stroke.

Taking an active role in the planning and process of recovery can reduce the possibility of psychological issues and improve outcomes overall. Active roles might include befriending other stroke survivors, volunteering, creative new hobbies, support group attendance, scheduled physical activity, etc.

Psychological care tips for Stroke caregivers

If you are part of a stroke patient’s support system, here are some tips on how to encourage them to take an active role:

• Listen to the patient’s thoughts and make sure the patient is supported by you no matter what. Non judgemental peer and/or family support can be an effective way to support patients with mild depression and anxiety.
• Encourage communication between your loved one and other stroke survivors. Each phase of recovery is different, hearing the stories of others can provide encouragement, understanding or a light at the end of the tunnel. Connection to stroke survivors can be found through online reading, support group participation or through stroke based phone advice lines.
• Promote creative or stimulating activity. It is helpful for patients to remember that they can still keep up with old hobbies or learn new skills. Some activities may include coloring pages, crosswords, making music, RAPAEL Home, board games etc. Patients often feel more self confident and validated in their abilities when they realize that they can continue to complete simple activities by themselves.
• Spend some time in the community. After a stroke, patients may want to hide from the world especially if they are experiencing anxiety or depression. Spending time with your loved one outside of the home and including them in group activities can help to remind them that they belong to a community. Check out the local gym or shopping center, work on gardening tasks, play team games like bowling, visit a movie theater, or just sit at a cafe and people watch. Help them to remember that the things they enjoy are awaiting them.

Little wins add up to Major victories

When working through these tips, don’t forget to acknowledge your loved one’s achievements, not matter how small. It is easy for patients to overlook the small stuff. It can be very motivating when someone else notices. Remember, little wins can add up to major victories. Keep in mind that these strategies are not a substitute for professional assistance. If you feel that your loved one is in danger of becoming seriously withdrawn or suicidal please seek advice from professionals including GPs, nurses, social workers, or therapists.

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Although we are not yet able to cure all illnesses, the continued development of cutting-edge medicine is believed to be capable of treating many of the diseases previously considered untreatable. In keeping with this trend, the average lifespan of humankind is also increasing.
However, the brain continues to remain the most unknown area of the human body. Recent studies have revealed many things about the human brain, such as completing a 'standard brain map' that predicts the risk of cerebral infarction, but there is still a long way to go in order to be able to say that we conquered the brain.

Genius Brain

How is the brain of a so-called genius different from the brain of an ordinary person? We know that the scientist, Albert Einstein died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1955. Dr Thomas Harvey of Princeton University Hospital studied Einstein's brain for 20 years. Many people thought that Einstein's brain would be different, but despite 20 years of research, there was no big difference found between his brain and the brain of an ordinary person.

The Brain may be Small but it Is the Most Important Organ

Although the brain only weighs on average about 2% of one's body weight, it plays a huge role in our body. The brain consists of over 100 billion nerve cells (Neurons) which are responsible for sending information throughout the body coordinating all the necessary functions of life.
The brain is divided into the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. The left side of the brain is responsible for controlling the right side of your body and the right side of the brain is responsible for controlling the left side of the body. The left side of the brain controls tasks that have to do with logic such as science and math where the right side of the brain controls tasks that have to do with creativity such as art.
The frontal lobe plays the most important role in the brain, including motor function, language, thinking and emotional control. The temporal lobe is responsible for memory, knowledge, and auditory function. The occipital lobe plays a role in recognizing the visual information of our eyes. And the parietal lobe is responsible for tasks related to space recognition or mathematical calculations.

Various Brain Disease

The most common diseases that affect the brain are as follows: Stroke, Alzheimer's, dementia, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson's Disease, and Brain tumors (Brain Cancer).

Habits are More Important than Foods for Brain Injury Prevention

As one age the human brain loses its functionality year after year, therefore it is very important for you to preserve brain functions when you are young. People often ask, “What kind of food is best for the brain?” However, the answer is not food, it is moderate mental stimulation that will help to preserve the brain.
Cognitive exercise, such as taking a cooking class, world puzzles, spot the difference, is often recommended for 50-60-year-olds in order to prevent dementia. One of NEOFECT Rehab Solutions provides collective cognitive exercises that you can do anywhere at any time. RAPAEL Cognition consists of activities that focus on attention and memory.

To prevent brain diseases that occur in old age, it is essential to manage risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. It is also important that keep healthy by staying active. If you smoke, you should try to stop smoking as smoking increases the risk of brain diseases.

Reference: Kim, Beomjoon. Bundang Seoul Univ. Hospital Official Blog. blog.naver.com/happysnubh/220570862533.

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We understand that recovering after a stroke can be a confusing journey. Often, it is helpful for people that have suffered a stroke and their caregivers to have an idea about what to expect. With the abundance of stroke-related research, it’s important to remember that every stroke, just like every person, is different! For example, pre-existing conditions, complications and unexpected side effects can affect how a person moves through a typical recovery timeline. Below we list the typical steps in a recovery timeline:

Acute care

Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7 days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.

Acute rehabilitation

Acute care is the time immediately after a stroke, typically within the first 7 days. During this time, internal systems, such as breathing and heart rates, are stabilized by medical professionals to try to prevent a recurrence.
Rehab exercises and protocols are usually not done at this time unless cleared by the physician. A therapist may visit and help change positions to reduce joint stiffness, swelling and pressure sores.

Exercises during this period may focus on:

• Self-care training: Self-care training focuses on adapting to perform everyday tasks, such as dressing and eating.
• Mobility training: Mobility training focuses on learning to use a cane or walker, if needed.
• Functional electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulation is used to help jump-start muscles that need a nudge to perform functional activities, like holding a spoon or turning a door knob.
• Daily exercise routines: Daily exercise routines are important to see results. This is because the consistency in performing tasks helps create the repetition that is required to continue progressing.

Long term rehabilitation

At this point 1 year post-stroke, most people have returned home or to a long term care facility.
Although most motor and functional recovery happens in the first 3 months, there is evidence that therapy is helpful throughout a person’s lifetime. For this reason, it’s important to never give up, neuroplasticity never expires!

Here are options to continue rehab at home:

• Virtual reality: New technology is available which takes advantage of the brain’s ability to rewire itself. To learn more, check out the fun and engaging RAPAEL Smart Rehab products.
• Wearable devices: Devices Maintain the gains you have achieved through monitoring continued exercise with a wearable fitness device.
• Robotic assistance- impaired limbs sometimes need a little extra help. Check out the Neofect NeoMano to find out about assistive grip technology.

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A stroke might look different depending on which side of your brain it affects. For example, if the left side of the body is affected, then the stroke likely happened on the right hemisphere. What if the right side of the body is affected? You guessed it, the left hemisphere of the brain was affected by the stroke. This is called a contralateral relationship.

Each side of the brain also controls different cognitive aspects. In this article, we will focus on the right side, stay tuned for future blog posts to learn about the left side.

Common Symtoms of Right Sided Stroke

The right side of the brain controls the ability to pay attention, recognize things you see, hear or touch, and be aware of your own body. Below are some common symptoms caused by a stroke on the right side of the brain and some ideas for ways to increase awareness and work on these areas of difficulty:

Agnosia

The ability to recognize objects, faces, voices or places can change.

• Ideas to improve agnosia:
  • Reinforcement of pairing the name with the object or face can be helpful in providing cuing to someone with agnosia. Avoid “quizzing” when it comes to agnosia as errorless or guided learning tends to be the most effective approach.

Anomia

The ability to recall names of everyday objects may be affected.

• Ideas to work on anomia:
  • Continued practice with activities such as flashcards with the object and object name can assist in improving anomia. It is important to start with a small number of objects and word pairs to encourage success.

Attention span

Focusing attention on a conversation or tasks for long periods of time may be difficult

• Ideas for improving attention:
  • Work on different areas of attention including sustained attention, trying to start small and taking breaks in order to build the ability to sustain attention for a longer period of time. Other areas of attention include divided attention where someone may switch back and forth between tasks to challenge their attention.

Perseveration (the repetition of a particular response)

Someone may have difficulty following instructions or answering questions asked one right after the other. If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke affecting the right side of the brain, they may repeat answers or movement even if a new instruction is given or a new question is asked.

• Ideas to improve perseveration:
  • Identifying when someone is perseverating and assisting by changing the subject to allow the person to get out of the loop of their repetitive thoughts can be useful.

Visual/spatial problems

You may have problems judging distance, size, position and rate of movement and how parts relate to a whole.

• Ideas for improving visual/spatial issues:
  • Identifying the areas of visual spatial challenges can be done by your occupational or speech therapist. There are specific tasks you can work on to improve your visual and perceptual challenges once they’re identified.

One way to continue to make progress in strengthening your neural pathways is by using either the RAPAEL Smart Glove or Smart Board. These products help increase the brain's ability to rewire itself and increase the range of motion and strength in the upper extremities. And the best part is that they do this with fun and engaging games! RAPAEL’s products can also help with issues with vision and cognition. To learn more about the Smart Board or Smart Glove Please call us at 888-623-8947 or email us at contactus@neofect.com.

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The brain is made up of 2 hemispheres, the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Each hemisphere is responsible for controlling different functions in our bodies. For example, the left hemisphere is responsible for: logic, language skills, oral function, sequencing, linear thinking, mathematics, critical thinking, and judgement/reasoning. The right hemisphere is responsible for: imagination, art, nonverbal cues, visualization, rhythm, and intuition.

Typically, if someone tends to be more creative and artistic, people often refer to them as a ‘right-brained’ thinkers. If someone is more more analytical and mathematical, they are usually referred to as a ‘left-brained’ thinkers. Physically the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.

Common symptoms of Left sided stroke

Every stroke is different and will affect people differently based on the severity. However, if someone has a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain it can cause the following 5 symptoms:

1) Weakness or paralysis to the right side of the body: Weakness is caused by damage to the brain and not damage to the limb itself.
2) Aphasia: Since the left side of the brain controls language many people who have suffered from a left sided stroke may have difficulties speaking or understanding language, this is called aphasia.
3) Cognitive impairments: The left side of the brain controls critical thinking, judgement, reasoning and sequencing therefore having a stroke on the left side of the brain can cause someone to have varying levels of cognitive impairments.
4) Difficulties swallowing: The left side of the brain controls all oral function which includes chewing and swallowing. After a left sided stroke one may have trouble chewing and swallowing. One may be put on a feeding tube until they are able to relearn how to swallow or chew.
5) Visual impairments: After having a stroke on the left side of the brain it is common for someone to suffer from visual impairments in the right eye. It is common for someone to lose half of their visual field in their right eye which is called hemianopia. One may also present with neglect to right side of the body which is called visuospatial neglect.

All of the above noted symptoms of a left-sided stroke are caused by damage in the brain. In order to retrain the brain after a left-sided stroke, it is important to strengthen the neural pathways that control all of these behaviors and movements by doing repetitive exercises. The more repetitive exercises and movements one does, the stronger the pathways in the brain will become. This is called neuroplasticity.

One way to continue to make progress in strengthening your neural pathways is by using either the RAPAEL Smart Glove or Smart Board. These products help increase the brain's ability to rewire itself and increase the range of motion and strength in the upper extremities. And the best part is that they do this with fun and engaging games! RAPAEL’s products can also help with issues with vision and cognition. To learn more about the Smart Board or Smart Glove Please call us at 888-623-8947 or email us at contactus@neofect.com.

RAPAEL Home Inquiry:
Home.neofect.com
Phone: (866) 598-1370