Hometelemed’s in-home telerehabilitation technology was the subject of a recently published scientific study. The article, published in the March 11, 2011 edition of the Journal of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, showed exercise therapy supervised over the Internet may be effective for patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury.
The study combined Hometelemed’s telerehabilitation platform, the ReJoyce workstation, and an experimental toothclick-activated hand stimulator. A first treatment group received 6 weeks of daily at-home treatment using this apparatus, with a second group receiving conventional exercise therapy, also using the hometelemed telerehabilitation platform.
13 participants took part, 5 completing the study with both hands, such that both groups had a sample size of 9. The outcome measures included the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), grasp and pinch force measurements, and the ReJoyce automated hand function test (RAHFT).
The results were very promising:
After ReJoyce-based exercise therapy, ARAT scores improved 13.0%, on average, and only 4.0% in the non-ReJoyce based therapy. The RAHFT scores also improved more after ReJoyce therapy, averaging a 16.9% improvement over a 3.3% improvement in the conventional therapy group.
Mary Galea, one of the researchers involved in the study, described the ReJoyce as a means of motivating patients to perform repetitive tasks.
“The ReJoyce … enables a person to do meaningful tasks, and provides the motivation to do them.” – Dr. Mary Galea, Professor of Clinical Physiotherapy and Director, Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre.
Study participant Gabriel Moraitis was also enthusiastic about the potential of the new therapy.
“I’ve found that, in everyday tasks, I’m using my hand a lot more than before, and that I can pick things up with a firmer grip.” – Gabriel Moraitis, Study Participant
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