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Category: Neurological%20Disabilities

Exercise System

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---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted exercise system for an individual who has hemiplegia following stroke. For individuals who have had a stroke and now have reduced strength on one side can strengthen and re-stabilize should protraction through practiced movements using an exercise system. The system assists the individual retraining the brain to create new pathways damaged from the stroke. The traditional method of practicing shoulder protraction was not ideal for this patron. An adaption of an exercise system, which could monitor how many repetitions performed by patients and then provide motivation for the patron was suggested. TADNSW observed the current system and provided a newly designed version. The adaption consists of a box with two “sides,” the patient side at the front and the therapist side at the back. It also has a flat switch that is attached with a Velcro strap to the back of the patient’s chair, and detects whether the patient’s back is still in contact with the chair. The patient side of the box was kept deliberately simple, to minimize confusion for the stroke patients. It contains the flap, a two-digit display showing the number of hits required, a yellow light which shows that the person’s back is in the correct position, and a green light which shows when it is time to make the next movement. On the therapist side there are controls which the therapist uses to set the number of hits required. Also on the therapist side is a control to set the delay time before the patient can make the next movement, which operates the green light on the patient side. The delay can range between 0-10 seconds. The system only records a hit and counts down if both the back light and the green light are on. This is controlled by a microprocessor, which records the hit on the flap and checks to see if the back switch is closed. It’s also possible to use the device without the back panel, if patients find this too hard or too complicated. The therapist just unplugs the back panel from the therapist side of the box and the system operates as if the back switch is permanently on. As a final touch, a set of toy penguins is mounted on top of the box. When the patient’s countdown reaches zero, the penguins jump up the stairs and then slide down the ramp. This provides amusement to both the patients and staff, as well as alerting the staff when the patient has finished. This can be replaced with any other rewards toy with the same jack size, according to the preference of the therapist or the user. Also on the therapist side of the box are facilities for charging the system’s battery. It has rechargeable batteries that take three hours to charge and last for 10-12 hours. An unexpected benefit is that the system can also be used to practice sitting balance, by getting patients to bend at the waist to reach the flap while using their legs to balance. Looking at the numbers and lights during exercise can provide practice in concentration and field of vision. TITLE: Stroke of success. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 30, Number 3, July 2010: p. 6-7. PAGES: 3 with cover.

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10/03/2010
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Technical Aid To The Disabled (TAD)
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TAD is a charity organisation that has the authority to fundraise. TAD uses volunteers dedicated to the design, construction and provision of aids for people with disabilities. Members of TAD provide a resource pool comprising a range of design, engineering, rehabilitation, computer, therapy and other professional and technical skills. Aids custom-designed by TAD volunteers are described in the TAD Journal.

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Therapeutic Aids