A recent case study report of three teens with cerebral palsy (hemiplegia) and the use of remotely monitored in home video games was published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation January 2010. The three teens used a specially fitted sensor glove linked to a video game at home for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week for 3 months. The video games played were specifically designed to improve hand function. After the three month training, all three teens showed improved hand function, brain activity changes on functional MRI's and 2/3 teens showed increased radial bone mineral content. Specifically, occupational therapy testing improved, finger range of motion improved and an increased ability to lift objects. All of this was tested remotely.
Reference: Golomb MR, McDonald BC, Warden SJ, Yonkman J, Saykin AJ, Shirley B, Huber M, Rabin B, AbdelBaky M, Nwosu ME, Barkat-Masih M, Burdea GC. In-home virtual reality videogame telerehabilitation in adolescents with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Volume 91, Issue 1, Pages 1-8.e1 (January 2010)
2 comments:
Impressive results. Wishing they had an n of >100, but how feasible is that?
More important to me is the dosage - daily for 3 months. Which insurance company would pay for that? Which parent would pay for that? A few, yes. Too bad this dosage is so uncommon.
Barbara
Barbara,
I agree - the sample size is minuscule. Tough to pay for and tough to fit it into a daily routine 5 times a week for a teen. A good start for telerehabilitation though. Speech therapists are doing it now in school districts. Interesting niche to me.
Margaret
PS - Thanks for your comments. Without you I would think no one was listening.
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