New Rehabilitation Technologies Video

Learn how Sharp HealthCare uses cutting-edge technology in Sharp Rehab.

For More Information: Find a Sharp-affiliated physical therapy doctor or learn more about Sharp Rehabilitation.

Transcript

We are very excited about the new technologies we put into practice over the past year — NovaVision, driving simulation and Motormed. 

One of the latest is NovaVision, a new treatment used to recover lost vision due to injury. After a stroke or traumatic brain injury, neurons in the brain responsible for vision can be damaged. The good news now is that we know a zone of residual vision usually exists between damaged and undamaged areas that can actually be improved through precise patterns of stimulation. Stimulation in the zone of residual function can increase function and contribute to vision restoration. For some, this means being able to read a book or the newspaper again or simply being able to see their loved ones more fully again. 

We are using the driving simulator here at Sharp Rehabilitation Center to complement the adaptive driving program, which takes patients behind the wheel on the road. In the past, much of the therapy was aimed at improving the patient’s visual awareness and visual performance in ways that couldn’t be objectively measured. Now we have a way of testing those things, visual performance measures in a quantitative way to see if there is improvement and to customize the treatment to each patient’s individual needs. We are excited about this new technology because it allows us to now take into the laboratory a method of evaluating and perhaps retraining patients with brain injury in a very effective way in which we can measure the benefit and then apply it to the individual needs of the patient. 

Motormed is a motor-assisted bike. The uniqueness of this equipment is that the patient’s extremities can be moved either using motor power or one’s own muscle strength. Patients who are paralyzed or have minimal strength are now able to move their legs and arms and exercise. Motormed is also helpful in reducing muscle spasms and stiffness while increasing range of motion and helping patients rediscover the residual muscle strength. The bonus is like any exercise Motormed not only improves a patient’s physical condition but their psychological well being as well.