| Physical therapy helps sufferers of a variety of | | | | attempts are made to return mobility to them, most |
| ailments to maintain or improve functionality of the | | | | stroke victims make no real visible improvements in |
| body. Physical therapists work to prevent, treat, and | | | | mobility. Robotic therapists, however, are changing |
| rehabilitate patients with physical problems and | | | | that. The advantage robotic therapy has over human |
| reduced mobility. There are a large number of | | | | therapy is constancy. It's very difficult for a human |
| physical therapy treatments out there, and the right | | | | therapist to take the time necessary to make true |
| one for you depends on your specific condition. | | | | strides in improving a patient's mobility. Robots, |
| Physical therapists treat patients for anything from | | | | however, never tire, slow, or change pace-- of |
| headaches and back pain to spina bifida and chronic | | | | course, the repetitive motions needed in order to |
| obstructive pulmonary disease-- as well as helping | | | | properly work the affected parts of body of the |
| many other patients to recover as much mobility as | | | | stroke victim don't affect a machine. In addition, |
| possible after an accident or other event. | | | | robotic therapists generally have bio-feedback |
| There's been a lot of talk lately in the health care | | | | mechanisms. These mechanisms help to increase |
| community about physical therapy robots. Because of | | | | improvement in the affected parts of the body. |
| this, you may be wondering which is better, robotic | | | | Some robotic therapists are even designed to act as |
| (mechanical) physical therapy or physical therapy | | | | both coach and therapist, using jokes, humor, and |
| done by human therapists. The answer is neither. A | | | | encouragement to help patients get though the long |
| human therapist is always necessary when embarking | | | | and tiring process of physical therapy. |
| on a long term physical therapy program, no matter | | | | Human Therapy |
| your condition. However, studies done with hundred | | | | While strides are being made in the field of robotic |
| of stroke victims show that robotic therapy definitely | | | | therapy, and robotic therapists will at some point be |
| has a place in the future of physical therapy-- a very | | | | available to help with many conditions, human |
| important place. | | | | therapists are and will always be necessary. For most |
| Robotic Therapy | | | | conditions, a human therapist is your only option. |
| Robotic Physical therapy is a brand new field. | | | | However, even if using robotic therapy, you must |
| Discoveries and inventions have been made in places | | | | have a human therapist in order to diagnose your |
| like MIT that have had some very promising results | | | | movement problems and develop a long-term |
| on stroke victims. | | | | strategy for treating them. It's also necessary to visit |
| Victims of a stroke are generally weeks, months, | | | | human therapists to evaluate progress and make |
| even years in physical therapy. Even though many | | | | further plans for both human and robotic therapy. |