Aids for Stroke Recovery

Scientists in America are developing breakthrough wearable aids for stroke recovery.  Stretchable sensors aim to speed up the recovery by monitoring the care they receive when they leave the hospital.

Patients have wireless sensors stuck on to their skin and the results are then fed back to doctors.  Portable technology provides continuous recording of information due to the connectivity.  Information gathered would then be sent wirelessly to doctors and specialists. Thus enabling doctors to determine which muscle groups are affected.  In addition it could show heart function and even quality of sleep.

Patient’s recovery in a hospital setting tends to be much better than when they are home.  Having this new stretchable technology would ensure that rehabilitation programmes are focussed to speed up recovery.  It will allow doctors to see what is going on ‘inside’ the patient’s body in a way that cannot be seen currently.  A full detailed picture in real time has to be a game changer.

How would these aids for stroke recovery help you?

It would be interesting to see how these sensors could have or could help you.

Was there an area of weakness that was not picked up by the professionals?

Were you aware of weakness but it was not deemed significant enough to continue rehabilitation on?

What difference would it make to you, to wear technology at home rather than being in a hospital bed?

I wonder how much this would help the NHS Budget in the UK or not?

Would this be available on Medicare in America?

What do I feel about using wearable technology which aids stroke recovery for myself?

On reflection, I wonder if the weakness I experienced would be deemed significant enough to wear these sensors?  My symptoms included, left sided weakness in my left arm and left leg.  I received rehabilitation training on both my movement and working with exhaustion. My walking was unaided; I just had a drag in my foot and occasionally dropped things with my left hand.

Today a few years after the stroke, I still believe I have left sided weakness.  Symptoms like these are more pronounced when I am tired.  Holding on to cups or papers can take more concentration with my left hand. Walking when tired, I can catch my left foot often if I do not concentrate. Technology such as these sensors would highlight this.  So this technology may not only be a breakthrough for initial recovery after stroke but also for continuous development.

You can read the news on this exciting development at: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/february/stretchable-electronics-a-game-changer-for-stroke-recovery-treatment/