Robot Helping Stroke Survivors Recover Years Later
Braintree Rehab Facility First In World To Offer Myomo
POSTED: 3:19 pm EDT March 19,
2008
UPDATED: 6:04 pm EDT March 19,
2008
Email
Print
BOSTON -- Lori Glover, 35, is enduring another exhausting round of rehabilitation, just seven months after she survived a stroke.On Aug. 30, 2007, she returned to her desk job after lunch."I went to pick up my messages off my phone, and I realized that I couldn't write," Glover said. "My speech was horrible, just mumbo jumbo. It was a matter of seconds and I couldn’t even walk.”
Video: Robot Helps Stroke Survivors Recover Years LaterNow, Lori is back at work, living a more normal life and getting stronger every day thanks to a robot called Myomo.“You can hear the machine kick in when she's working it,” said Glover’s occupational therapist, Maria Grillo.What makes Myomo unique, is that it forces the patient to engage in their recovery.“The robot’s not just moving a person’s arm for them, and then we’re expecting them to get better,” said Dan Parkinson, of Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital. “The only way the robot moves a person's arm with them is that they're thinking to turn their arm on. They're sending an impulse to their arm. So the thought process here is that that process can regenerate pathways” in the brain.Myomo was developed by students at MIT.Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital is the only facility in the world that currently uses Myomo on stroke survivors, as well as patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord and brain injuries. It has the potential, Parkinson said, to help anyone with central nervous system disorders.“When I use the Myomo it helps me straighten my arm and lift my arm. It's really good,” said Glover.Experts said Myomo’s potential is remarkable. As recently as three years ago doctors thought stroke patients maxed out their recovery after six months.“What we know now is that that's not true,” said Parkinson.Myomo has helped patients injured as many as 20 years ago regain small, but important functions like turning on a light or opening a jar.“These are huge, huge life-changing quality of life things for somebody who's unable to use their arm,” said Parkinson.Myomo was granted FDA approval in January 2007. It can be used during in-patient or out-patient rehabilitation treatment.Therapists work with patients using Myomo approximately two times a week for up to one hour each. Most health insurance plans will cover at least part of the cost of the therapy.Glover said she's starting to fine tune her skills enough to write again using her right hand.The name Myomo stands for "my own motion." Experts said in the future a home version of Myomo may be available for patients to use on their own.
Video: Robot Helps Stroke Survivors Recover Years LaterNow, Lori is back at work, living a more normal life and getting stronger every day thanks to a robot called Myomo.“You can hear the machine kick in when she's working it,” said Glover’s occupational therapist, Maria Grillo.What makes Myomo unique, is that it forces the patient to engage in their recovery.“The robot’s not just moving a person’s arm for them, and then we’re expecting them to get better,” said Dan Parkinson, of Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital. “The only way the robot moves a person's arm with them is that they're thinking to turn their arm on. They're sending an impulse to their arm. So the thought process here is that that process can regenerate pathways” in the brain.Myomo was developed by students at MIT.Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital is the only facility in the world that currently uses Myomo on stroke survivors, as well as patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord and brain injuries. It has the potential, Parkinson said, to help anyone with central nervous system disorders.“When I use the Myomo it helps me straighten my arm and lift my arm. It's really good,” said Glover.Experts said Myomo’s potential is remarkable. As recently as three years ago doctors thought stroke patients maxed out their recovery after six months.“What we know now is that that's not true,” said Parkinson.Myomo has helped patients injured as many as 20 years ago regain small, but important functions like turning on a light or opening a jar.“These are huge, huge life-changing quality of life things for somebody who's unable to use their arm,” said Parkinson.Myomo was granted FDA approval in January 2007. It can be used during in-patient or out-patient rehabilitation treatment.Therapists work with patients using Myomo approximately two times a week for up to one hour each. Most health insurance plans will cover at least part of the cost of the therapy.Glover said she's starting to fine tune her skills enough to write again using her right hand.The name Myomo stands for "my own motion." Experts said in the future a home version of Myomo may be available for patients to use on their own. Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
