Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Selected to Study Robotic Legs for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan is among 10 rehabilitation centers in the country that will participate in an investigational trial of eLEGS. eLEGS is a wearable robot developed by Berkeley Bionics, that powers wheelchair users up to get them standing and walking.

eLEGS is a ready-to-wear, battery-powered exoskeleton that is strapped over the user's clothing. The user initiates the steps by triggering non-invasive movement sensors in the crutches that communicate with the computer carried in a backpack. The patient doesn't bear the weight, however, as the device transfers its load directly to the ground. eLEGS provides unprecedented knee flexion, which translates into the most natural human gait available in any exoskeleton today. The device can be adjusted in a few minutes to fit most people weighing 220 pounds or less, and between 5'2" and 6'2", with at least partial upper body strength.

The rehab centers selected for the investigational trial will be the first eLEGS Centers in the world, conducting ongoing research, and offering the device for the rehabilitation of their patients. Physical therapists at Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s (RIM) Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery will be using eLEGS to primarily treat spinal cord injury patients for balance, posture and gait training.

“The Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery has a history of seeking out the most innovative and state-of-the-art technologies and therapuetic treatments for improving function and quality of life after a spinal cord injury,” says William H. Restum, PhD, President, RIM. “We believe eLEGS is an exciting opportunity to further advance the functional recovery of the patients we serve.” 

Berkeley Bionics plans to introduce eLEGS to the market in early 2012.

To learn more about eLEGS, watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcM0ruq28dc

Lower your Blood Pressure with Exercise

The pressure to succeed at home, at work, and even to find the lowest gas price is constant. As we take these pressures head on, there also could be pressure building up inside us without notice. Blood pressure as we know is the force on our arteries as blood is transported throughout the body.

Exercise and blood pressure have a close connection. Regular physical activity helps to build a stronger heart. A stronger heart will send more blood throughout the body with less effort, in turn placing less stress on your arteries. It takes at least one to three months of regular exercise to have sustained results. Exercising this regularly, can lower your blood pressure by 10 millimeters of mercury, and possibly eliminate the need to take medications.

So, what do you have to do? Moderate aerobic activity of at least 20-30 minutes on most days of the week is recommended. Aerobic activity can be anything from mowing the lawn and other yard work to walking or jogging. If you don't have time for 20-30 consecutive minutes of activity, break it up into shorter bursts of 5 to 10 minutes, and before you know it, you have reached your 30 minutes for the day.

By Craig DeLeon, ATC, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

Sports Related Concussions—What You Need to Know

The most common head injury in sports is concussion.  Concussions are direct injuries to the brain and are usually due to direct blow to the head.   They are common in contact sports with the highest risk found in those athletes who participate in football.  It is estimated that in high school football alone as many as 250,000 concussions occur each year and that up to 20 percent of players sustain a concussion.   Other sports in which players are at risk for concussion or head injury include boxing, ice hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer and basketball.

Concussions can range from mild to severe, but they all share the common factor of interfering with the way the brain works.  They can cause problems with memory, balance, judgment, speech and coordination.  Symptoms of concussions may include headaches, dizziness, amnesia, difficulty with concentration, personality changes, disturbances of vision and coordination and occasional loss of consciousness. 

Concussions don't always involve a loss of consciousness. In fact, most people who have concussions never black out. Many athletes may suffer a concussion and may not even realize that they had one and therefore, do not undergo evaluation by medical personnel.  It is important to educate athletes and coaches about concussions especially in the instances in which an athlete sustains a concussion, but does not lose consciousness or have symptoms severe enough that would draw attention to the athlete during the course of competition.

Once a concussion has occurred, the athlete becomes much more likely to sustain a second concussion.  Repeated concussions can result in cumulative damage to the brain, even when the injuries are separated by months or years.  Therefore, it is recommended that a detailed record of all concussions sustained by the athlete during the course of his/her playing career is kept.  It is also important for athletes to report any type of symptoms that they might have and also for teammates and coaches to be suspicious of the athlete that exhibits changes in his/her personality or behavior during the course of a game.   While most concussions are mild and resolve without any long term complications, it is very important to evaluate them thoroughly to avoid potentially long-term brain damage or possibly even life-threatening outcomes.

By: Dr. Tariq Awan, Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Receives Web Health Award

The Health Information Resource Center announced the winners of its 13th Annual Web Health Awards which honors the nation’s best digital health resources. Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan received a Merit Award for its monthly consumer e-newsletter called Health e-Solutions.

The competition, which is held twice yearly, featured 17 entry categories, including blog, e-newsletter, interactive content, mobile application, social network, video, and website.

A panel of 39 experts in digital health media served as judges and selected gold, silver, bronze, and merit winners from among more than 500 entries.

RIM’s Health e-Solutions features health and wellness articles, exercise and fitness tips, and our healthy recipe of the month. If you would like Health e-Solutions e-mailed to you, click on this link http://tinyurl.com/4xgxn38 to sign-up. The subscription is FREE.

Energy For Sale: Looking for the right energy bar or drink to buy?

All energy bars and drinks are not created equal.  Some pack in the carbohydrates and fats, while others focus on vitamins and minerals.  The flavors can be plentiful: cookies and cream, carrot cake, lemon poppy seed and chocolate mocha fudge.  Some bars are meant for recovery and are full of protein, while some are meant for pre-workout and are full of carbohydrates.  Some bars and drinks help you loose weight, while others give you that surge of adrenaline to win a race.  The list goes on and on.

There is no ONE energy bar or drink that will do everything for you.  Yes, even energy bars and drinks are specialized!  Energy bars , drinks, and gels can benefit you with any need that you may have.  You just have to know what to look for.  Before deciding on what type of bar or drink to buy, or what ingredient content to look for, you need to decide why and when you will be using it.

While nothing beats real food for the best nutrition, energy bars and drinks are convenient and at times the only choice we have for a meal, snack or with exercise.  In a world where most people have lives filled with busy work schedules, family commitments, and exercise, trying to fit real food into one’s day can be difficult.  The right bar or drink at the right time of day can help you have the energy you need to make it through the day or get you though your workout.  With so many choices or energy, protein bars and drinks on the market, how does one know what to choose?

There are several different groups of bars and drinks: protein, energy, meal replacement, and snack bars.  Also available are supplemental gels and chews that one can take while they exercise.  Pre-workout bars are your best bet prior to working out.  Look for a bar high in carbohydrates, low in protein and fat just before a workout.  This bar should have less than 3 grams of fiber.  Fat content should also be low.  Fat is not digested quickly and can sit in your stomach and cause discomfort during exercise.  There are also bars with slightly higher fat and protein content that you can eat 1-2 hours before a workout.  The high grade carbs in pre-workout bars or drinks provide an endurance boost during a workout: and they replenish glycogen (energy reserves) in muscles. 

Meal replacement bars are going to be high in calories (200-300).  Their job is to make you feel the way a real meal would.  People who work long hours, may need to have a bar that will sustain them.  A bar that taste good and has proper ingredients will help you stay away from the junk food.  These bars and drinks are also used to aid in weight loss.

Gels and chews are used during a workout.  They are designed for easy digestion and absorption into the bloodstream.  The goal is to sustain energy through a gradual rise (not spike) in glucose.  They are easy on the gastrointestinal system (GI), when blood flow is being used for working muscle and not in the stomach.  They are also easy to carry on you which makes then easy accessible.

    

Snack bars are going to have a lower calorie count than a meal replacement bar, about 100-200 calories each.  They help give you that little “pick-me-up” in between meals.  Most of these bars have a little more sugar and salt for taste and are used in between meals.

Post workout bars and drinks are high in protein, amino acids, and muscle restoring elements that repair and restore tissue in your body after a long or hard workout.  They help replenish your body.  Look for bars and drinks with 12-15 grams of protein.

Here are some recommendations to look for when you are trying to decide what bar or drink to buy.  Watch the saturated fat content of the bar or drink.  Look for saturated fat content about 2-3 grams and 0 grams trans fat.  There are bars with 8-10 grams of saturated fat.  That is the same amount you get in a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Cheeseburger! 

Sugar!  Keep the sugar content low.  According to the American Dietetic Association, look for bars or drinks with less than 18 grams of sugar.  Some bars have so much sugar in them, you might as well eat Twinkies and Hostess Fruit Pies!  Stay away from sugar alcohol.  It can make you feel bloated and could possibly cause some irritation to the GI system before or after exercise.

Fiber should be kept around 3-5 grams per bar or drink.  A high fiber bar or drink prior to exercise can cause digestive stress, so be wary of bars with more than five grams.  Remember that fiber helps keep you feeling “full” for longer.  It is slow to absorb and breakdown.  High fiber in a meal replacement bar is a good ides, but not prior to a workout.

Carbohydrates.  Okay, you want a bar to fuel your workout but not create a carb overload.  Look for a bar that is 20-25 grams of carbs. Count calories.  Some bars and drinks have 350-450 calories of higher.  If you eat more than you burn off, than those extra calories will turn into extra pounds.

Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water when you eat energy bars.  Bars are extremely nutrient dense and chewy and are easier to digest with generous water intake.  Avoid washing them down with a performance beverage.  Consuming too many carbs with a bar and performance drink at once can slow your body’s ability to absorb them.  You may feel bloated, constipated and very uncomfortable.

Remember food is the best source of fuel for your body.  Don’t become an energy bar or drink addict!  Of course an energy bar or drink is better than consuming junk food.  There are many options and healthy choices to pick from as long as you know what to look for.  EAT UP!

By: Charlene Quenneville A.T.C., Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

Go GREEN with Exercise

With the onset of better weather, longer days and sunshine, now is a great time to get outside!  Consider the following suggestions to be active outdoors and do some good for your planet!

Park it!  Ride your bike

The average person drives about 12,500 miles at 581 gallons of gas and 78 pounds of hydrocarbons each year.  Get out your trusty, old 2 wheeler and put your man power to work.  Even if you rode your bike 10 miles a day, 5 days a week, for 25 weeks a year, you could save yourself and the planet about 60 gallons of gas and harmful emissions.  So, maybe you don’t live 10 miles from work, but it’s likely that your home or your workplace is close to a public parking lot or even park!  Drop off the car and complete the trek via pedal, or bike to meet coworkers to carpool.  Moreover, bicycling at pace of about 11 mph can burn between 400-500 calories per hour!

Hit the pavement

Walking at a pace of 3.0 mph can burn about 224 calories per hour.  Got errands?  Try walking to the pharmacy or grocery for small items.  Lunch date?  Pick a location close enough to get to on foot.  Burn calories, not gas!  Make it a family affair, dog walk, kids….

Plant a garden, even a small one

General gardening tasks burn about 272 calories an hour and you’ll be able to reap the rewards of your own crops throughout the growing season and eat healthier!  By producing your own fruits or vegetables you can reduce carbon emissions, add less to landfills and contributes to a healthier lifestyle. 

Help keep your city clean

Adopt a road or just help keep the outdoors beautiful by picking up litter around the roadways.  Burning about 200 calories per hour, this task will keep you active and enjoying the outdoors.  Get a group together, set a time and place and enjoy the camaraderie!

By: Tonya Potts, DPT, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Celebrates Nurses Week 2011

On May 6, 2011, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) is joining the American Nurses Association in celebrating "Nurses—Trusted to Care," as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, every year. The purpose is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.

RIM employs nearly 100 RN's in various roles including patient care RN's and LPN's, leadership, outpatient clinics, infection control, PPS coordination, quality improvement, referral services, research and as physician extenders.

During this week we recognize and thank our nurses for their commitment to the care, education and health promotion of our patients at RIM.

Each day we will be featuring one of our outstanding nurses on our Facebook page. So be sure to visit our page and take a moment to thank a nurse who has made a difference to you.