As more devices aimed at stroke survivors hit the market, two new tech tools under development have been announced to help aid rehabilitation.
Researchers soon will be testing an app for personalized stroke rehab, designed to help users move through 10 different exercises. In addition, a new wearable “robot” prototype has been created that can correct stroke patients’ foot and ankle movements.
The new tools, both of which were developed by separate research Universities in Hong Kong, are indicative of the growing concern around stroke and stroke-related mortality rates, possibly caused by the global growth of older populations.
More than 70% of strokes occur in older adults, and most stroke survivors end up needing rehab for mobility issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also estimates that 11% of older adults living in residential care facilities have had at least one stroke.
The unnamed wearable robotics device is fitted around a user’s foot and ankle and assists with gait, balance and overall neuroplasticity, or restoring the brain’s circuitry for controlling those muscles
Research studies using the device showed that the exoskeleton was 40% more effective for stroke than other mechanical tools, and 90% of users corrected any foot inversion issues, developers noted in a statement.
The AI-enabled stroke rehab app, SmartRehab, guides users through exercises and includes a telehealth portal to connect with physical therapists.
The SmartRehab app first will be tested in Hong Kong and seven other countries with funding from the World Stroke Organization. Only a quarter of stroke survivors in low- and middle-income countries have access to rehabilitation services, the SmartRehab’s app developers warn.
Rural or underserved areas in the United States could face similar challenges, and those regions have been the focus of recent conversations, including at the federal level, about the future of healthcare and expanding access to services.
Meanwhile, the goal for the ankle-foot robot — or “exoneuromusculoskeleton” — is to have the device commercially available at some point next year, its developers said.
Other tools for stroke rehabilitation either in development or on the market include a wrist-worn health tracker monitor and a music therapy program, InTandem, that uses rhythm to help re-synchronize walking.
