Southend Hospital's pioneering trials to help paralysed stroke victims 12:41pm Wednesday 4th June 2014 in News SOUTHEND Hospital has launched a pioneering research trial to help patients paralysed by strokes. Thanks to a 10,000 grant from the Department of Health, the rehabilitation team on the hospitals stroke unit will study the effects of mirror imaging on patients where one arm is completely paralysed as a result of the stroke. Patients taking part in the trial will be encouraged to undertake daily therapy using a mirror box which encourages their paralysed arm to mimic the movement in their healthy limb. Joanne Lay, clinical inpatient rehabilitation lead said: The use of mirror imaging as therapy has been used extensively for supporting the rehabilitation of amputees but until now no one has explored its potential in helping stroke patients regain movement. It is a simple therapy but if it works for our patients it could really have a dramatic impact of their level of recovery. This is very exciting and could ultimately benefit patients nationwide. The mirror box works by inserting the impaired arm into the box while viewing the working arm on the external mirror. When the working arm is moved the … Continue reading →

Researchers at Shepherd Center are studying whether stimulating the brain before rehabilitation could yield greater gains in motor function for people recovering from stroke. Shepherd Center is one of 12 U.S. centers participating in a clinical trial that is evaluating whether coupling navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the brain with standard occupational therapy can measurably improve hand and arm function following a stroke. Experts say this approach could unlock a totally new, non-invasive treatment to promote recovery and function. "It's really a seminal study in neurorehabilitation that, if successful, will change common practices for how we take care of certain stroke patients," said Ford Vox, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Shepherd Center and primary investigator for this study. "We have this golden opportunity right after someone has a stroke when we know people are most likely to improve or recover function, and this therapy may offer patients the best potential." Shepherd Center is testing a navigated brain stimulation system developed by a Finnish medical technology company called Nexstim. It uses TMS therapy to apply a mild electromagnetic current to excite the brain, a technique that can be used to both investigate the brain's functions and change … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise Researchers at Shepherd Center are studying whether stimulating the brain before rehabilitation could yield greater gains in motor function for people recovering from stroke. Shepherd Center is one of 12 U.S. centers participating in a clinical trial that is evaluating whether coupling navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the brain with standard occupational therapy can measurably improve hand and arm function following a stroke. Experts say this approach could unlock a totally new, non-invasive treatment to promote recovery and function. Its really a seminal study in neurorehabilitation that, if successful, will change common practices for how we take care of certain stroke patients, said Ford Vox, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Shepherd Center and primary investigator for this study. We have this golden opportunity right after someone has a stroke when we know people are most likely to improve or recover function, and this therapy may offer patients the best potential. Shepherd Center is testing a navigated brain stimulation system developed by a Finnish medical technology company called Nexstim. It uses TMS therapy to apply a mild electromagnetic current to excite the brain, a technique that can be used … Continue reading →

Spinocerebellar Ataxia is an illness that occurs when parts of the nervous system that control movement become damaged. There are treatments for Spinocerebellar Ataxia sufferers, who during the illness experience failures of muscle control in their limbs, this leads to a lack of balance and coordination or great difficulty in walking. The term ataxia is mainly used to describe the symptoms, it is sometimes also used to refer to a group of disorders; although it is not a specific diagnosis. Ataxia cause cells in the part of the brain called the cerebellum to degenerate, or atrophy, the spine can also be affected. At this time there is no known cure for treating Spinocerebellar Ataxia, which is considered to be a progressive and irreversible disease, though not all forms of Spinocerebellar Ataxia cause severe disability. Treating ataxia is usually aimed at easing the symptoms of the illness rather that the disease itself. Some of the symptoms include tremors, stiffness, depression, spasticity and even sleep disorders, this list is not exhaustive though. So treating ataxia would be aimed at alleviating these symptoms, either through medication or therapeutic measures. Many people who become afflicted with this illness will eventually become unable to perform … Continue reading →