Does anyone know anything about thArm tutor device

Hello,

Thank you for your enquiry. There are a number of different upper limb or arm devices being used worldwide in stroke rehabilitation. It can be confusing to know what is best or most appropriate. The treating therapists in rehabilitation will usually discuss and recommend the most appropriate evidence based approach for the individual as each stroke survivor is unique in their abilities and recovery.

While I’m familiar with many of the gadgets and treatment techniques on the market, the Arm Tutor is not a device I’m overly familiar with. After doing some investigation it appears to be a system that consists of an ergonomic wearable arm brace and dedicated rehabilitation software. From what I can see, it’s a fully computerized system designed to evaluate and rehabilitate hand function.

The website states the system incorporates the following features:

There appears to be minimal published research on it, the company list one small study on their website but I couldn’t find much more to suggest its effectiveness.

http://www.meditouch.co.il/files/Research/pri_485_Rev_1.pdf

Melbourne based Occupational Therapist and Managing Director of Abraham OT Services Vikki Abraham received a fellowship in 2013 and went overseas to investigate a number of computer and robotic based therapy as well as constraint induced therapy. While the Arm Tutor wasn’t one device she ended up purchasing for her own clinic, she has briefly touched on it during her fellowship report. You may find her report interesting.

http://www.issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/media/2014/08/Report-ABRAHAM-FINAL-LowRes.pdf

There is a supplier listed in Australia whom you could contact to see if any rehabilitation hospitals in Australia are using this device, however we would always suggest liaising with your treating occupational therapist and physiotherapist about the most appropriate evidence based therapy for you.

This device can be useful in the initial stage of stroke but is quite expensive and doesn't really have anything that can't be devised with a a good programme from an experienced OT .Save your money and seek out an experienced OT to help with your hand rehabilitation.