BME-Stroke-Rehabilitation-Applications

• Wearable technologies will improve stroke rehabilitation
  

  The new partnership will also explore the development of other wearable health technologies for older adults.

  “From the management of chronic disease, to fall prevention and mobility strategies, health wearables have the potential to make a huge difference for the elderly,” said Muhammad Khan, founder and CEO of Pervasive Dynamics, and an alumnus of the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program at Waterloo. “If we can get technologies like these in the hands of the public and practitioners we can significantly reduce the impact and burden of an aging population on the Canadian health-care system by providing clinicians with more data on which to base health-care decisions.”

  By 2030, one-quarter of the Canadian population — close to 8 million people — will be over the age of 65. Stroke is the third major cause of death in Canada, with approximately 50,000 Canadians suffering a stroke each year. More than 20 per cent of older adults will take serious falls, costing the health-care system $2 billion in related costs annually.

  “ARCH is focused on facilitating advances in therapies to slow down the trajectory of aging and reduce the risk of age-related injury and disease,” said McIlroy. “If we hope to reduce the impact of an aging population, we need to start now.”

• Wearable technology to help people recover after stroke
  
  
  "Stroke rehabilitation is increasingly home-based, as patients are often discharged from hospital after only a few days. This policy encourages independence and avoids problems associated with prolonged hospital stays," Jane Burridge, professor of restorative neuroscience at Southampton, was quoted as saying."However, some patients struggle to carry out the exercises and they may question whether what they are doing is correct," Burridge added.
  
  The wearable technology will be the first to incorporate mechanomyography (MMG) microphone-like sensors that detect the vibration of a muscle when it contracts, and inertial measurement units (IMU), comprising tri-axial accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers that detect movement.Data from the two types of sensors will be put together and then data that is not needed, for example outside noise, will then be removed from the muscle signal.
  

  The feedback to patients will be presented on a user-friendly computer interface as an accurate representation of their movement, showing them how much they have improved. "We hope that our sleeve will help stroke patients regain the use of their arm and hand, reduce time spent with therapists and allow them to have the recommended 45 minutes daily therapy more flexibly," Burridge said.
  

  
  
  
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