| Computer games have now leveled up from mere | | | | and in partnership with the School of Electronics and |
| sources of entertainment and networking to medical | | | | Computer Sciences. With their research lasting for 3 |
| tools that aid hand recovery of patients who suffered | | | | years from 2005, ARM now provides hope to stroke |
| mild stroke. All thanks to doctors and engineers | | | | survivors--even those who suffered stroke years |
| dedicated to help stroke survivors attain mobility. | | | | before. |
| Move With ARM | | | | Retrain With Haptics |
| The University of Hampton have developed a system | | | | A similar initiative to ARM was implored by the |
| called ARM (Assessment, Rehabilitation, Movement) | | | | Houston Rice University under the leadership of |
| that stroke patients can use with computer games | | | | mechanical engineer Marcia O'Malley, called Haptics. |
| while playing at home. Stroke patients will be retrained | | | | The only difference is that it gives stroke patients the |
| with hand and arm functions that have been paralyzed | | | | freedom to move as they please. Haptics relies on the |
| by the stroke. They will be attached with electrodes | | | | perception of touch, which allows them to feel their |
| on their skin that contract appropriate muscles during | | | | environment and be guided with correct movements. It |
| electrical stimulation. | | | | also banks on video game controllers through the use |
| Once initiated, stroke patients will be able to | | | | of a joystick. |
| successfully perform tasks by moving a joystick that | | | | Play With Rutgers |
| will track their movement in a 2-dimensional plane on | | | | Unlike Haptics' joystick therapy and ARM's electrical |
| the computer screen. Stroke patients will do repetitive | | | | stimulation, Rutgers developed a rehabilitation system |
| tasks, which in time, will improve voluntary movement, | | | | by modifying the Microsoft Xbox video game and |
| reduce the need for artificial stimulation, and give a | | | | teaming it up with the gaming glove of Essential Reality |
| much better chance of recovery. | | | | P5. Engineers at Rutgers tinkered with the equipment |
| ARM is based from the idea of industrial robots and | | | | to work with the glove through a new software that |
| the Iterative Learning Control technique to help stroke | | | | will enable stroke patients to recover hand functions |
| patients regain the movement and control of their hand | | | | with finger flexing exercises. |
| and arm. It is the first to provide a thorough method to | | | | Computer games now give joy to stroke patients as |
| rehabilitate the upper limbs as most rehabilitation | | | | they recover from their mild paralysis. It's just really |
| processes focus on the lower limbs or on walking. It is | | | | amazing how ordinary computer games can now |
| a new technique in control theory that addresses the | | | | work for the betterment of man and augment stroke |
| challenges of rehabilitation through electrical stimulation. | | | | rehabilitation. These computer-aided rehabilitation |
| ARM is actually an initiative of therapists, doctors, | | | | systems now provide new doors of opportunities for |
| engineers, and psychologists from the University | | | | the discovery of other ways of recovering paralysis in |
| through the leadership of Dr. Jane Burridge from the | | | | other parts of their body. |
| School of Health Professions & Rehabilitation Sciences | | | | |