Rehabilitating Stroke Patients Using the Motor Rehab Machine (MRM)
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Secondary School
Major
-
Minor
-
Institution
Project Lead The Way - Kentucky
KY House District #
52
KY Senate District #
20
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Ashley Fishback
Abstract
In the occurrence of a stroke, a blocked or ruptured blood vessel prevents oxygen and nutrients from traveling throughout the brains causing brain cells to die. This in turn causes function loss to external appendages. Strokes are a rising epidemic within the United States; causing rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, etc. to take on an overwhelming number of patients requiring rehab. Although the current methods in place during the rehabilitation include virtual reality simulation, external extremity support training, as well as other techniques or devices focusing on a broad ranges of body functions the majority of these rehabilitation procedures cannot take place within the patients home because the equipment needed cannot be transported to a private residence. Consequently, the creation of this rehabilitation device that is portable and simple, yet will also focus on increasing the mobility, flexibility, and regeneration of neuroplasticity in the brain that will allow function of the forearms, wrists, and hands to be regained. With further modifications to improve the overall efficiency and functionality of the device there will be an increase in the productivity of at home rehabilitation in the specific area of forearms, wrists, and hands.
Rehabilitating Stroke Patients Using the Motor Rehab Machine (MRM)
In the occurrence of a stroke, a blocked or ruptured blood vessel prevents oxygen and nutrients from traveling throughout the brains causing brain cells to die. This in turn causes function loss to external appendages. Strokes are a rising epidemic within the United States; causing rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, etc. to take on an overwhelming number of patients requiring rehab. Although the current methods in place during the rehabilitation include virtual reality simulation, external extremity support training, as well as other techniques or devices focusing on a broad ranges of body functions the majority of these rehabilitation procedures cannot take place within the patients home because the equipment needed cannot be transported to a private residence. Consequently, the creation of this rehabilitation device that is portable and simple, yet will also focus on increasing the mobility, flexibility, and regeneration of neuroplasticity in the brain that will allow function of the forearms, wrists, and hands to be regained. With further modifications to improve the overall efficiency and functionality of the device there will be an increase in the productivity of at home rehabilitation in the specific area of forearms, wrists, and hands.