Importance of Hand Rehabilitation
The importance of hand rehabilitation cannot be overstated—it’s essential for regaining the dexterity and strength necessary for everyday tasks. Hands play a pivotal role in almost every aspect of our lives, from self-care and personal hygiene to professional duties and leisure activities. When injury or illness impairs hand function, the loss can deeply affect a person’s independence and quality of life.
Effective hand rehabilitation helps individuals recover not just the mechanical movements of gripping or releasing, but also the fine motor skills required for delicate tasks, like drinking, buttoning a shirt or writing with a pen. It’s also vital for sensory recovery, enabling the restoration of touch and temperature sensations that are critical for protection and function.
Moreover, successful hand rehabilitation can prevent secondary complications such as joint stiffness, muscle atrophy, or chronic pain. By focusing on restoring movement, strength, and coordination, hand therapy ensures that patients can maintain their roles in their families and communities, and continue to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Challenges in Hand Rehabilitation
The human hands are incredibly intricate and flexible, serving a crucial function in daily activities. Studies emphasize the critical link between hand function, especially in the distal upper limb, and the ability to carry out daily tasks effectively. Impairments in hand function can significantly reduce a patient's quality of life, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions to recover hand motor skills. Despite research indicating satisfactory motor recovery in the proximal upper extremity for many patients, challenges persist in achieving comparable advancements in distal upper extremity recovery due to efficacy limitations. (Yue et al., 2017) .
Hand rehabilitation is one of the most time consuming process due to the hand's complex structure and the multitude of muscles involved. Each finger has its own set of muscles and tendons, requiring targeted exercises to regain strength and coordination. From stretching to strengthen of each muscle movement is a time consuming process (Krakauer, 2006). Moreover, the hand's sensory and motor functions are finely tuned, demanding precise and often repetitive training that can stretch over months or even years, depending on the severity of the injury or condition.
Additionally, the commitment to long-term therapy can be daunting for patients, as it involves not just in-clinic sessions but also rigorous at-home practice. This extensive time investment can lead to issues with patient compliance and motivation, especially when progress feels slow or incremental. The hand's complex neuro-musculoskeletal system means therapists must carefully tailor rehabilitation programs to each individual's specific needs, further complicating and delaying the process due to personalization needed.
How much repetition is needed for best neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is fundamental to neurorehabilitation, with the extent of recovery being directly proportional to the amount of training. It is scientifically proven that the more training is performed and the faster the recovery or brain changes.
The question is how much training is needed to create effective changes?
Research indicates that a regimen of 400 to 600 repetitions daily is essential to induce the significant neuroplastic changes necessary for effective rehabilitation. (Lang et al., 2009)
However, research shows generally current doses of upper limb training during rehabilitation are not adequate to drive the neural reorganization needed to optimally promote function post stroke with around 100 repetition in general (Lang et al., 2009). That’s the reason rehabilitation robotic technology play an important role to boost the repetition accelerating neuroplasticity recovery. However, the robotic technology is expensive pose a barrier to widespread of its adoption and application.
Breakthrough of Hand Robotics Technology For the Mass
Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation represents a revolutionary leap in hand rehab technology, redefining upper limb and hand function recovery with its advanced approach by providing affordable technology for the mass usage at affordable cost comparable to commodity like smartphone or laptop.
What exactly is Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation?
At its core, it’s a sophisticated system yet easy to use robotic designed to assist individuals in regaining movement and functionality in their upper limbs, specifically the hand. This technology is primarily utilized by patients who have suffered from strokes, traumatic injuries, or have undergone surgery that has led to a decrease in limb functionality.
The concept is relatively straightforward yet profoundly impactful: robotic devices, assisted by artificial muscle on the hand of the controlled by therapeutic professionals, provide repetitive, structured movements that help retrain the nervous system. It’s a harmonious blend of human touch and robotic precision, aiming to improve motor skills, strength, and coordination.
Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation capitalizes on the concept of neuroplasticity, with the power of robotic devices it can easily facilitate between 400 to 600 repetitions of movement per day in 30 to 60 mins.
This level of repetition is crucial for the brain's reorganization process, forging new neural pathways to regain function and strength in the upper limbs. It's a synergy of quantity and precision, essential for retraining the nervous system and accelerating the rehabilitation journey.
The Techcare Difference - Why Techcare Hand Robot?
While there are several robotic rehabilitation devices on the market, Techcare stands out due to its patient-centered design and adaptability. Here are the key features and reason that make Techcare a game-changer in the field of rehabilitative medicine:
1. Adaptive Rehabilitation: Techcare Hand Robot Across Recovery Stages
Every patient's journey is unique, and Techcare's hand robot is built to tailor neuro-rehabilitation exercises program to individual needs at different recovery stage for stroke.
Techcare hand robot is meticulously designed to accommodate the diverse needs of stroke recovery across various stages, including the flaccidity stage, spasticity emergence, and fluctuations in spasticity levels. During the flaccidity stage, the gentle mobilization provided by the hand robot aids in preventing muscle atrophy and promoting circulation.
As spasticity begins to appear in stage two, the hand robot supports controlled movement and helps manage muscle tone. In stage three, when spasticity increases, the hand robot provides targeted therapy to address stiffness and promote flexibility. Finally, during stage four, as spasticity decreases, the hand robot facilitates gradual rehabilitation exercises to enhance motor control and coordination. By adapting to the evolving needs of stroke recovery, the Techcare hand robot offers tailored support to optimize outcomes and promote functional independence.
By catering to the specific needs of each stage, hand robot rehabilitation ensures a comprehensive and adaptive approach to stroke recovery, maximizing outcomes and enhancing quality of life for patients.
The Techcare hand robot is also beneficial for individuals with various neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease, among others. Additionally, it can be used for orthopedic conditions affecting hand function, such as fractures, tendon injuries, and arthritis.
2. Effective Air Compression Therapy for Muscle Stiffness, Spasticity and Swelling Reduction
Addressing spasticity is indeed one of the key challenges in hand rehabilitation. Techcare Hand Robot Air Compression Therapy is one of the effective therapeutic intervention to address the muscle stiffness and spasticity. This feature utilizes controlled air pressure to gently and rhythmically expand and contract compression chambers within the robotic compression glove promoting relaxation of the muscles and joints (Nakajima et al., 2022).
Kindly note that the utilization of this glove should be under the guidance of a certified Techcare Hand Robot therapist, who can provide expert advice tailored to the patient’s specific rehabilitation stage and prerequisites. As the treatment utilize specific protocol to achieve the result needed. This professional oversight ensures that each patient receives the most appropriate and effective treatment plan, aligning with their individual recovery trajectory.
Techcare's hand robot now extends its capabilities to include optional arm or leg compression therapy, which is especially beneficial for patients dealing with swelling in the arm, feet and lower limbs. The device's methodical inflation and deflation cycles boost blood flow, aiding in the removal of excess fluid and potentially accelerating the healing process. It's an efficiently gentle method to alleviate edema and enhance limb functionality. By automating this aspect of care, the system not only augments circulation with its consistent compression cycles but also streamlines the rehabilitation process, easing the workload on therapists and ensuring more uniform therapy sessions.
3. Upgraded Hand Robot Glove Designed Enhanced Articulation for Functional Dexterity
The latest upgrade to the hand robot glove marks significant improvements, featuring a lighter design for comfort and a greater range of movement to more closely mimic the natural actions of the hand. With eight joints compared to the previous four, the glove offers an expanded range of motion, significantly improving the bending capabilities of the hand's structure.
This advancement enriches the user’s ability to perform Distal Interphalangeal (DIP), Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP), and Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) movements. By facilitating more natural and complex hand functions, the enhanced glove supports deeper and more comprehensive therapy, particularly for activities that demand intricate finger flexion and extension. Precision in pressure application has also been enhanced, allowing for more effective and tailored therapy sessions.
The latest iteration of the hand robot glove comes with a thoughtful enhancement: customizable, ultra-thin anti-slip surfaces strategically placed at the fingertips. This nuanced addition significantly bolsters the glove’s utility during therapy, aiding in the performance of functional upper limb activities. By providing users with a secure grip, these anti-slip surfaces facilitate a more accurate and controlled execution of tasks, thereby enhancing the therapeutic experience and potential outcomes of functional limb exercises.
To ensure a functional posture during training and to prevent wrist drop, Techcare hand robot come with detachable and adjustable wrist support, especially for patients who lack wrist stability (wrist drop). This support helps maintain the wrist at proper alignment, which is critical for performing functional movements effectively and safely.
4. Customizable 30+ Hand Prehension and Sequential Program for Progressive Dexterity Training
The Techcare hand robot glove is equipped with an advanced assisted training program that can be fully customized and automated for sequential hand motor skill development. The Techcare hand robot glove takes rehabilitation to the next level with its customizable program, capable of simulating over 30 hand prehensions and 100+ functional movements. This adaptability allows therapists to tailor the rehabilitation process to the specific needs and goals of each patient, ensuring a more effective and patient-centric approach to recovery. Whether the goal is to improve grip strength, fine motor skills, or daily task performance, the Techcare glove's versatile customizable supports a wide array of hand functions for comprehensive rehabilitative care.
The sequential training program of the Techcare hand robot glove encompasses a comprehensive range of exercises including finger opposition, individual finger movements, various grasping sequences, and the full spectrum of flexion-extension patterns. This approach is designed to methodically rebuild hand function by progressively challenging the patient with complex tasks that simulate real-world activities.
5. Upgraded Active and Passive Mirror Therapy for Effective Relearning
Mirror therapy is proven to be an effective therapies for improving the muscle strength and activity of daily living after stroke in case of hemiparesis (D. et al., 2022; Ezendam et al., 2009; Gandhi et al., 2020; Thieme et al., 2013). By providing visual feedback that mimics normal movement, it encourages the brain to rewire neural pathways, aiding motor learning and recovery.
The latest version of the Techcare hand robot introduces a ground-breaking feature: both active and passive mirror therapy capabilities, aiming to emulate the power of mirror therapy.
In active mirror therapy mode, users wear a wireless mirror glove on their unaffected hand and the robot glove on the affected hand. When the mirror glove is activated by the unaffected hand, the hand robot glove mirrors the programmed movements set by the controller. This innovative setup fosters self-engagement during training, facilitating neuroplasticity recovery.
In passive mirror therapy mode, it takes this a step further. Both the affected and unaffected hands are equipped with the hand robot glove. It can move both their unaffected hand and the affected hand's movements simultaneously in real-time, based on the set training program, with no delay between the two robot gloves. By allowing immediate correlation between the patient's hand movements and visual feedback, real-time mirror therapy promotes motor learning and neural plasticity. With this capability, therapists can also treat patients requiring treatment for both hands or attend to two patients simultaneously.
6. Certified Medical-Grade Hand Robot with Optimal Air Pressure to Ensure Safe and Natural Hand Movement
The Techcare Hand Robot is approved by MDA Malaysia for medical use, ensuring its safety. Techcare hand robot has dedicated build-in safety air pressure sensor that will stop if the operating pressure is higher than safety threshold. All Techcare Hand Robot is calibrated by professionals to provide safe and natural hand movements during therapy. Optimal air pressure is important to mimics natural resistance for effective exercises without causing strain.
This calibrated pressure also enhances proprioception, crucial for motor control and coordination. Non-medical devices lack this precision and may pose risks like muscle strain and reduced motion. Using them improperly can even reverse progress. Relying on medical-grade equipment like the Techcare Hand Robot ensures safe and effective rehabilitation, empowering patients to regain hand function confidently.
7. Expand Patient Usage with New Child-Friendly Sizes Option for Paediatric Adaptability
Techcare has broadened its therapeutic offerings by introducing the hand robot in paediatric sizes, catering to children requiring hand rehabilitative support. This child-sized model retains all the innovative features of its standard counterpart, all designed with the unique proportions of a child's limb in mind.
These paediatric adaptations make the device suitable for young patients with conditions like cerebral palsy, congenital anomalies, post-surgical recovery, or those who have suffered from neurological or traumatic injuries. This commitment to inclusivity emphasizes Techcare’s dedication to providing accessible and age-appropriate rehabilitation tools for patients across the lifespan.
8. Elevating Upper Limb Functional Rehabilitation with New Optional Techcare Arm Hoist
In pursuit of enhanced functional recovery, the Techcare arm hoist emerges as an innovative optional addition to Techcare Hand Robot. This optional tool not only facilitates rehabilitative therapy but also enriches upper limb movement and dexterity. Offering 360-degree freedom of upper limb movement while providing assistance, it mirrors the support offered during therapy sessions, fostering increased independence with reduced therapist intervention.
One of the key benefits of the arm hoist is its ability to mirror the support offered during therapy sessions. By providing consistent and reliable assistance, it helps patients build confidence in their abilities and encourages them to take an active role in their rehabilitation journey. This, in turn, reduces the need for extensive therapist intervention, allowing patients to progress at their own pace and maximize their potential for recovery.
9. 30+ National and International Award Winning Rehab Technology Manufacturer
Techcare stands at the forefront of innovation as the premier local rehab technology company, boasting an impressive collection of over 30 national and international innovation awards since 2014 with 10 years of experiences in the field. After sales support and warranty is also one of the key challenges in hospital or rehab centre due to foreign manufacturer.
As the approved local hand robot manufacturer by MDA Malaysia and certified with ISO 13485, Techcare ensures the highest quality standards and safety in its products. Customer also can benefit from local warranty support, expertise, upgrades and improvements based on the local needs.
10. Scientific Proven Hand Robotic Rehabilitation Trusted by Health Professionals
Let’s break down the science behind Techcare robotic-assisted therapy. By providing consistent and repetitive facilitation movements, these devices can help form new neural connections in the brain, a process known as neuroplasticity. Over time, these new pathways can take over the functions lost due to injury or medical conditions, allowing patients to regain movement and strength. There are over 200+ Techcare hand robots currently in use, aiding hundreds of individuals daily. Globally, there are over 110 million people currently living who have experienced stroke (Golubnitschaja et al., 2022) .
With hand robotics, therapists can seamlessly integrate it into their practice, extending their capabilities and enabling them to perform hundreds to thousands of movements per session, enhancing neuroplasticity effectively. Therapist can optimize treatment time by simultaneously attending to multiple patients, further maximizing the therapy's efficiency.
Besides, hand robot can become the extended hand of therapist to provide treatment for patient at home. The portability and user-friendly nature of the Techcare Hand Robot allow certified therapists to prescribe robotic exercises for home use, facilitating continuous rehabilitation beyond clinic walls. Now, patients have the option to purchase or rent the robot for home use, allowing a more comfortable and intensive treatment for expedited recovery, reducing the risk of long-term burdens associated with missed rehabilitation opportunities.
Techcare's hand robot technology has also been accepted and integrated into the rehabilitation study curriculum at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). This recognition signifies the academic endorsement of Techcare's innovative approach to rehabilitation and highlights its relevance in academic settings.
By incorporating Techcare's hand robot technology into their curriculum, UiTM ensures that future rehabilitation professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to utilize advanced technologies effectively in clinical practice. This integration underscores Techcare's commitment to advancing rehabilitation education and promoting the adoption of cutting-edge therapeutic interventions in academic institutions.
Click here for more information, about Techcare Hand Robot purchase and home rental option.
11. Empowering Therapist with Exclusive Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation Certification Program Trusted by 100+ Professional therapist
As a manufacturer of hand robots, Techcare has trained experts capable of offering specialized certification programs for therapists. These programs aim to certify therapists in the effective use of hand robots, enhancing their skills and credibility in the field of robotic-assisted therapy. By completing these certification programs, therapists can maximize the potential of hand robot therapy interventions, ensuring optimal outcomes for their patients. Additionally, certification increases therapists' credibility, demonstrating their proficiency in utilizing advanced technologies for rehabilitation purposes.
Certification for hand robotic is essential for therapists, providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to use these devices effectively in rehabilitation settings and prescribe robotic exercise for various patients. Moreover, certification instills confidence in patients, assuring them of receiving high-quality care from competent professionals. Additionally, certification offers therapists opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, enabling them to stay updated on the latest advancements in robotic-assisted therapy.
As of now, there are over 100 certified Techcare Hand Robot therapists in Malaysia, spread across various renowned rehabilitation institutions. These include prestigious centers such as PERKESO Rehabilitation Center, KPJ Rawang, KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Tung Shin Hospital, Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar in Seremban, and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), among others. This widespread certification demonstrates the growing recognition and adoption of Techcare's hand robot technology within the Malaysian rehabilitation community, highlighting its effectiveness and value in enhancing patient care and rehabilitation outcomes.
The Future is Now: A Step Towards the Next Standard of Hand Rehabilitation Recovery
Techcare Hand Robot has become the standard of hand robotic rehabilitation. As we move further into the 21st century, the intersection between technology and healthcare continues to grow. Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation is at the forefront of this intersection, providing a glimpse into a future where recovery from injury is faster, more effective, and accessible to more people.
Techcare Hand Robotic Rehabilitation represents a leap forward in rehabilitative care. By integrating the precision of robotics with the expertise of occupational and physical therapists, it offers hope and improved functionality to those in need of upper limb recovery. As technology continues to advance, we can expect this field to expand even further, redefining what is possible in the world of hand therapy and beyond.
If you interested on Techcare Hand Robotic, feel free to contact us here.
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References :
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Ezendam, D., Bongers, R. M., & Jannink, M. J. A. (2009). Systematic review of the effectiveness of mirror therapy in upper extremity function. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31(26), 2135–2149.
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Nakajima, M., Tsuro, T., & Endo, A. (2022). Sustained Compression with a Pneumatic Cuff on Skeletal Muscles Promotes Muscle Blood Flow and Relieves Muscle Stiffness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3).
Thieme, H., Mehrholz, J., Pohl, M., Behrens, J., & Dohle, C. (2013). Mirror therapy for improving motor function after stroke. Stroke, 44(1). Yue, Z., Zhang, X., & Wang, J. (2017). Hand Rehabilitation Robotics on Poststroke Motor Recovery. Behavioural Neurology, 2017.