Spasticity & Neurological Rehabilitation Devices
This article will discuss spasticity and provide information about how neurological rehabilitation devices can help treat spasticity. Safely and easily moving around is not something that many of us think about on a daily basis. However, for individuals recovering from stroke, these tasks can be extremely difficult.
Each year nearly 800,000 Americans suffer strokes. As a result, many of these stroke survivors have balance problems and/or paralysis. According to the National Stroke Association, 40 percent of all stroke survivors suffer serious falls within a year of their stroke. This article will discuss effects of stroke related to mobility as well as provide helpful stroke recovery information.
Spasticity & Paralysis
Paralysis is defined as the inability of a muscle or group of muscles to voluntarily move. When messages from an individual's brain to his/her muscles don't work properly due to stroke, a limb can become paralyzed or become weak, a condition referred to as paresis. The term "spasticity" is commonly used by clinicians but meanings often are slightly different. In general, spasticity is muscle overactivity.
Spasticity often refers to tight, stiff muscles that make movement, especially of the arms or legs, uncontrollable or difficult. Characteristics of spasticity can include any of the following: a bent elbow, tight fist, stiff knee, pointed foot, or arm pressed against the chest.
There are numerous symptoms or effects of spasticity including:
- Painful muscle spasms
- Stiffness in legs, arms or fingers
- Uncontrollable movement or jerking, called clonus
- Abnormal posture
- Increased muscle "tone"
- Hyper excitable reflexes
Spasticity Treatment
Spasticity treatment commonly involves a mix of prescription drugs and therapies. This approach commonly achieves the best results possible. It is important to note that all drugs and therapies have potential side effects and risks. If you are considering spasticity treatments, be sure to weigh the side effects and risks against the benefits of this treatment. Consult a physician and about the best treatment options for you and your needs.
Neurological Rehabilitation
If you are suffering from spasticity, neurological rehabilitation products can help. Designed with input from top researchers and clinicians, these products have undergone years of development and produced strong clinical evidence. For you, they can create a fun, interactive training environment that keeps your attention focused on the repetitive training tasks - a far cry from traditional physical therapy.
Who can benefit from using neurological rehabilitation devices?
Patients who have suffered stroke and other brain injury can benefit from these devices. A patient with high tone or spasticity can increase their passive range of motion using a spasticity reduction program that stretches and encourages relaxation of tight muscles. Patients with some movement capabilities can improve active range of motion with the motor control and active recruitment programs.
How do these neurological rehabilitation products work?
These devices immerse the patient in a game-like environment. By interacting with the hand therapy and foot therapy games, the patient is encouraged to move their hand or foot to play the game. If the patient is unsuccessful in completing a specific task, assistance is given so that the full range of motion is realized.
Neurological rehabilitation devices provide instructions and assistance. They encourage and challenge the patient to achieve, surpass and increase their goals. They record and report progress during hand therapy and foot therapy. These neurological rehabilitation products will not do the work for you but they will work with you to achieve your goals.
About the Author:
Ed Koeneman is COO and co-founder of Kinetic Muscles (KMI). KMI is a leading provider of products for stroke recovery. For more information about The Hand Mentor(TM), The Foot Mentor (TM) or neurological rehabilitation, visit our website.
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