Since we started to see the advances of technology in the most simple things around the world, we human beings have wanted to find the way of adapting technology for making our lives more comfortable and easier, for example all appliances we find in our kitchen,our computers,cell phones,etc, all these items serve its purpose on making our life easier, we know preparing the breakfast just takes minutes nowadays.

We have seen Robots becoming a "natural/normal/familiar thing" into our lives, for example in movies we see them as helpers (just see Bicentennial man- a movie based on a book written by Isaac Asimov ),and for the medicine field,there have been great advance with the implantation of chips for helping disabled people to control their sphincters and body movements,or even for being able to recover sensitivity in our bodies, also we have witnessed the implantation of robotic arms and legs for many disabled people or war victims...technology might never have an end which is amazing and fabulous, especially if it is well used, used especially for helping people who suffer and it's a great hope for many of us disabled people...

We never know, maybe tomorrow,in a few years more, many of us can walk again,first with a robot helping us and then maybe we can have some of our damaged body parts replaced by robotic technology.

Sandra Villanueva (Salimacatwoman/Savipe/Salima)

Robot-Assisted Exercise May Help Disabled Stroke Patients Regain Arm Movement

Newswise --

An experimental robotic device that provides a "power assist" to weakened muscles shows promising results in improving arm motion in partially paralyzed stroke survivors, according to preliminary research in the April issue of the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. The principal investigator was Dr. Joel Stein of Harvard Medical School and Chief Medical Officer of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

After a stroke, many patients are left with severe weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Although current rehabilitation programs can improve functioning to some extent, most individuals with severe arm weakness do not recover satisfactory function. Exercise can stimulate the injured brain's capacity to repair itself, but individuals with severe weakness of the affected muscles may have difficulty in performing the needed exercises.

"This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using an EMG-controlled powered exoskeletal orthosis for exercise training in stroke survivors," the researchers write. The results also suggest that the AJB may one day be used to help to improve upper-limb motor function in disabled patients with stroke, brain injury, and other nervous system disorders.

The researchers envision two possible therapeutic uses for the AJB. As in the pilot study, it could be used as an aid to exercise training, either to improve muscle control or to build strength. It might also be used as a powered brace to provide assistance with everyday tasks in patients with chronic weakness or paralysis, such as that caused by spinal cord injuries. More study will be needed to address these issues, along with further development to make the AJB more portable, user-friendly, and comfortable.

About the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation focuses on the practice, research and educational aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Monthly issues keep physiatrists up-to-date on the optimal functional restoration of patients with disabilities, physical treatment of neuromuscular impairments, the development of new rehabilitative technologies, and the use of electrodiagnostic studies. This well-established journal is the official scholarly publication of the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP).

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins is a leading international publisher for physicians, nurses, specialized clinicians, and students. Nearly 275 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines are published under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information for professionals and students in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, and the pharmaceutical industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is a division of Wolters Kluwer, a leading multinational publisher and information services company with annual sales of €3.4 billion (2005) and approximately 18,400 employees worldwide.

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