Stroke

Rehabilitation of Reaching and Grasping Function in Severe Hemiplegic Patients

An article in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 22, No. 6,706-714 (2008) considers the issue of "Rehabilitation of Reaching and Grasping Function in Severe Hemiplegic Patients Using Functional Electrical Stimulation"

The aim of this study was to establish the efficacyof a therapeutic intervention based on functional electricalstimulation (FES) therapy to improve reaching and grasping functionafter severe hemiplegia due to stroke.

The FES group improvedsignificantly more than the control group in terms of objectmanipulation, palmar grip torque, pinch grip pulling force,Barthel Index, Upper Extremity FuglMeyer scores, andUpper Extremity ChedokeMcMaster Stages of Motor Recovery.The chronic stroke subjects demonstrated improvements in mostcategories, but the changes were not statistically significant.

FES Cycling Aids Individuals following a Stroke

A new study published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine focused on whether FES Cycling could be beneficial in the rehabilitation of post-acute stroke patients. Seventy percent of the FES Cycling patients learned how to perform the sit to stand movement with three different rising speeds whilst no patients in the control group could achieve this.

Twenty postacute inpatients were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. One group receiving FES Cycling as part of their therapy and the other group a standard rehabilitation programme. Both groups received 3 hours of rehabilitation per day for four weeks.

Stroke - Value of FES Cycling?

For years, the prevailing wisdom in the field of stroke rehabilitation was that traditional therapy methods can have little beneficial effect for patients with chronic stroke, particularly over the long term. The idea was that the brain was "hard wired" and any damage to the structure due to stroke or head injury could not be reversed.

Research into the Neuroplasticity of the brain is now showing that in fact the brain and the nervous system have a remarkable ability to recover function providing that the right type of stimulus is available.

Developers have noticed that certain individuals can benefit from FES Cycling to recover muscle strength and co-ordination inthe lower-extremities. The question researchers now want to answer is "How do we spot the individuals who can benefit most from FES Cycling when it comes to recovering from a stroke?"

About Us

Anatomical Concepts (UK) Ltd are Masters of Rehabilitation Engineering. Working with private individuals, healthcare professionals, businesses and the NHS since 1996.

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Contact Us

Anatomical Concepts (UK) Ltd
8-10 Dunrobin Court
Clydebank Business Park
Clydebank
Scotland

E: info@fescycling.com
T:+44(0)141-952-2323

Registered in Scotland No SC162409

Part of Life

Remember this is not a treatment .. and not a "cure" - but can be a health-giving part of daily life. This FES Cycling technology assists the client to exercise actively and receive fitness benefits otherwise not available.

Directors

Derek Jones
William A Munro
Kenneth D Munro
William DeToro