Researchers from the University of South Australia have devised a new home treatment program that will help chronic stroke victims overcome mobility issues by re-training their brains.
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A team led by research fellow Dr Brenton Hordacre has developed a new home treatment program designed to help give them greater use of their paralysed limbs.
The program involves the patient or their carer attaching brain stimulation electrodes to the head’s motor cortex region for 20 minutes each day, followed by a series of exercises.
The therapy aims to increase brain activity and help people rediscover the ability to move through a process known as plasticity.
Dr Hordacre said the two-week long treatment program could be delivered from the home, with progress over the fortnight tracked by health professionals using iPads.
Several advanced brain imaging measures are used to compare brain activity before and after treatment.
“This is the first time we have performed brain stimulation remotely for stroke patients and it could well be the future direction for this type of treatment,” Dr Hordacre said.
While the current study is focusing on patients with impaired motor function, Dr Hordacre said treatment projects for people who had suffered speech problems or cognitive damage as a result of stroke may be developed in the future.
Dr Hordacre would like to hear from anyone who is interested in taking part in the study.
For more information. email Brenton.Hordacre@unisa.edu.au
