Rehabilitation following Hand Dysfunction ” Algodystrophy”

Algodystrophy, also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a painful disease characterized by erythema, edema, functional impairment and sensory and vasomotor disturbance. The diagnosis of CRPS is based solely on clinical signs and symptoms, and for exclusion compared to other forms of chronic pain.

Algodystrophy develops especially at the upper or lower extremities of the limbs after a fracture. This syndrome is probably due to bone microvascular changes with subsequent sympathetic nervous system involvement.

To reduce the huge pain CRPS patients with hand dysfunction feel, undergoing hand rehabilitation activities appears to be substantial.

A team approach that includes care from doctors, psychologists, and physical therapists is recommended for treating CRPS.

Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care and prescribed movement. To do that, they are expected to employ highly efficient and specialized devices.

The Portable Rehabilitation Robotic Gloves: SIFREHAB-1.0 is one of the most recommended devices in this regard.

The Portable Robotic Rehabilitation Gloves: SIFREHAB-1.0 helps patients who are not able to attend physical therapy sessions at the hospital to do their own rehabilitative training safely and independently. As such, they can gradually overcome their hand dysfunction.

The SIFREHAB-1.0 also promotes activities of daily living (ADL) which are called self-help or self-care activities. These hand rehabilitation activities can include everyday tasks such as dressing, self-feeding, bathing, laundry, and/or meal preparation. The SIFREHAB-1.0 will detect weak conscious hand activity then boost it to complete the intended hand movement.

Other tasks the SIFREHAB-1.0 performs include mirror therapy training. The mirror glove is worn on the non-affected hand, which contains the force and flex sensors. It is used to measure the gripping force and bending angle of each finger joint for motion detection. The motor glove, driven by micro-motors, provides the affected hand with an assisted driving force to perform training tasks. All this should grant efficient and rapid hand training.

Algodystrophy is a very painful disease that requires excessive physical therapy. Rehabilitation activities are part and parcel of that therapy. The Portable Rehabilitation Robotic Gloves: SIFREHAB-1.0 is meant to fasten and facilitate the rehabilitation process.

Reference: Physical Therapy Guide to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome