Using Robots For Home-Based Stroke Rehab

Bad research, not understanding what actual rowing consists of. 

Using Robots For Home-Based Stroke Rehab

Researchers from the University of Houston have invented a new robotic system that is controlled directly by the user’s brain. Scientists believe this system could one day be used to help patients recovering from strokes and other serious brain injuries. Researchers hope to make their design available for commercialization soon.
The system works by capturing specific electrical activity in the brain. This activity can then be translated into robotic movements. The system relies on algorithms that can decide the movement intent thanks to patterned brain activity. The original version of this system required users to wear a skull cap equipped with sensors, but researchers are working on a simpler and more streamlined design for home use.
The device is modeled loosely off of a basic rowing machine. The initial design will focus primarily on the upper limbs in terms of rehabilitation.(Then you don't understand that proper rowing technique is mostly leg and back muscles.If you are using arms you are doing it wrong.) Scientists believe it will promote plasticity in the brain and lead to the restoration of motor functions. Should the upper limb design prove a success, a system focused on the lower limbs will next be created. This could potentially help users to regain the ability to walk after a brain injury.
The team behind the design includes health care providers, and industry experts. Researchers hope to fast-track this technology and get it approved by the Federal Drug Administration as a viable and inexpensive treatment for stroke victims. The research was backed by a $750,000 grant courtesy of the National Science Foundation’s Partnerships for Innovation Program.

“We want to break that wall between the lab and home. We want to build a system that can be used at home with FDA approval.”

Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UH and co-director of the Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology (BRAIN) Center, a NSF-supported Industry/University Collaborative Research Center based at UH and Arizona State University

While early results have been very positive, the system has a long way to go before it is ready for the FDA to approve it. All demonstrations have taken place in very controlled environmental settings. Additionally, the system has yet to be approved for use in patient’s homes or clinics.
Researchers intend to continue rigorously testing the new system, and plan to make it extremely user friendly so that it can be easily utilized in the home. Experts believe this technology could also be used in virtual reality games and an assortment of consumer electronics.

Stroke this!

Picture just for fun. I rowed one summer and it was amazing the speed you could get in an eight, I remember racing the wake of a tugboat pushing a barge up stream. For more on rowing contact Barb at Barb's Recovery.
Picture from Jeff Tamagini Head of the Charles.
http://www.universalhub.com/2012/stroke

The Canoe Race as Stroke rehab

Ok this really has nothing to do with rehab but Barb, another stroke blogger, does row and I do want to get back to canoeing.

The Canoe Race:

Toyota vs. Ford

Anonymous Author

Pages of "The Paper"

Toyota and Ford decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

When the race was over, the Japanese team won by a mile.

The American team was very discouraged and depressed. They decided to investigate and find a reason for the crushing defeat. A team made up of senior management was formed to find the problem and recommend appropriate action.

The team’s conclusion was: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering while the American team had eight people steering one person rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was needed, the American management team hired a consulting company for a second opinion, paying them a lot of money.

The consulting company advised the Americans that, of course, there were too many people steering and not enough people rowing.

Wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing teams management structure was totally reorganized to:

-Four steering supervisors

-Three steering area superintendents

-One assistant superintendent steering manager

Also, the management team implemented a new performance system that would give the one person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. They called this incentive, “The Rowing Team Quality First Program,” with meetings, dinners, and free pens for the rower. They got new paddles, canoes, more equipment, and extra vacation days and bonuses.

The Japanese won the next race by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management team laid off the rower for poor performance, halted the development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses. Also, the next racing team was outsourced to India.

There is a definite problem with this joke, they talk about rowing which is this case would mean an eight person shell. So the term canoe is wrong and they would be getting new oars rather than paddles.