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