Our Summary

Stroke or traumatic injuries often cause stiffness in the elbow, leading to a loss in the range of motion. Research suggests that moving the elbow soon after such an injury or surgery can help prevent this stiffness. However, after leaving the hospital, patients often struggle to stick to their rehabilitation program due to costs, social obligations, or simply a lack of motivation. Additionally, there aren’t enough therapists or equipment to help everyone.

This study introduces a smart elbow brace, which can be used at home to help with rehabilitation. This device can aid in various elbow movements and helps to reduce the force on the elbow during movement. It also includes a motion-tracking system and a set of video games designed to make the rehabilitation process more engaging.

This smart brace was tested on five healthy individuals, who were able to reach the full range of movement required for elbow rehabilitation while playing the video games. The findings suggest that this smart brace could be a helpful tool for those needing to recover from elbow injuries at home.

FAQs

  1. What causes stiffness in the elbow after stroke or traumatic injuries?
  2. How does the smart elbow brace aid in elbow rehabilitation at home?
  3. What were the results of the study testing the effectiveness of the smart elbow brace?

Doctor’s Tip

It is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for post-operative care and rehabilitation after elbow surgery. Using a smart elbow brace at home can help improve your range of motion and overall recovery. Be sure to use the brace as directed and stay consistent with your rehabilitation exercises to achieve the best results. If you have any concerns or questions about your recovery process, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

Suitable For

Patients who have undergone elbow surgery or have suffered from a traumatic injury that has resulted in stiffness or limited range of motion in the elbow are typically recommended elbow surgery. This can include conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, elbow arthritis, elbow fractures, and ligament injuries. Patients who have had a stroke and are experiencing stiffness in the elbow joint may also benefit from elbow surgery to help improve their range of motion and function. Additionally, individuals with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis that have resulted in severe damage to the elbow joint may also be candidates for elbow surgery.

Timeline

Before elbow surgery:

  1. Patient experiences a stroke or traumatic injury leading to stiffness and loss of range of motion in the elbow.
  2. Patient undergoes surgery to address the elbow injury.
  3. Patient is discharged from the hospital with a rehabilitation program to regain elbow function.

After elbow surgery:

  1. Patient struggles to adhere to the rehabilitation program due to various factors such as cost, social obligations, or lack of motivation.
  2. Patient may not have access to enough therapists or equipment to aid in their recovery.
  3. Introduction of a smart elbow brace designed for home use to assist in rehabilitation.
  4. Smart brace includes features such as aiding in elbow movements, reducing force on the elbow, motion-tracking system, and engaging video games.
  5. Testing of the smart brace on healthy individuals shows promising results in helping them reach the full range of movement needed for elbow rehabilitation.
  6. Potential for the smart brace to be a helpful tool for patients recovering from elbow injuries at home.

What to Ask Your Doctor

Some questions a patient should ask their doctor about elbow surgery and the use of a smart elbow brace for rehabilitation include:

  1. Can the smart elbow brace be used as part of my rehabilitation program after elbow surgery?
  2. How does the smart elbow brace help with elbow movements and reducing force on the elbow during rehabilitation?
  3. What range of motion exercises can I perform with the smart elbow brace?
  4. How often should I use the smart elbow brace for rehabilitation at home?
  5. Are there any specific video games or exercises recommended to use with the smart elbow brace?
  6. Will using the smart elbow brace at home help to prevent stiffness and improve my range of motion after surgery?
  7. Is the smart elbow brace covered by insurance or will there be additional costs for using this device at home?
  8. Are there any potential risks or limitations associated with using the smart elbow brace for rehabilitation?
  9. How does the smart elbow brace compare to traditional rehabilitation methods in terms of effectiveness and outcomes?
  10. Can the smart elbow brace be adjusted or customized based on my specific needs and progress during rehabilitation?

Reference

Authors: Said RR, Yong WQ, Bin Heyat MB, Ali L, Qiang S, Ali A, Rauf HT, Wu Z. Journal: Comput Intell Neurosci. 2022 Jun 16;2022:3754931. doi: 10.1155/2022/3754931. eCollection 2022. PMID: 35755722