Foot Mentor Pro helps stroke patients recover muscular control of
foot and ankle
2 December 2009
Kinetic Muscles, Inc., has launched the Foot Mentor Pro,
which helps stoke survivors recover from “foot drop” and regain proper
muscular control of the foot and ankle. Proper control of the lower
extremity is essential to an efficient gait pattern for walking and for
regaining patient independence.
Foot drop is a partial leg paralysis, caused by brain injury from
stroke, traumatic brain injury and other conditions, that prevents the
foot from lifting and flexing, causing instability and preventing
patients from walking. According to the American Heart and Stroke
Association, about 36% of stroke survivors suffer lasting impairment of
their feet and legs.
Like the Hand Mentor Pro, the Foot Mentor Pro, uses proprietary video
game technology at the patient interface in order to enable the
cognitive engagement and extended, repetitive practice that have been
shown by clinical studies to be critical to the recovery process.
KMI’s robotic technology, along with the proprietary patient
interface and data communications module, promotes neuromuscular
re-education through the clinically studied Active Repetitive Motion
therapy that underlies KMI’s product platform.
The Foot Mentor Pro can be deployed in both the clinic and home
settings. The device provides records of patient time spent on the
device and progress against established clinical measures, thereby
reducing costs by eliminating paper records and facilitating filing for
reimbursement.
Dr. Kay Wing, DPT, owner of the SWAN Rehabilitation Clinic in
Phoenix, led some of the early focus group studies of the Foot Mentor
Pro, and she noted, “I am very encouraged by the early results of our
focus group studies that pointed to notable improvements in foot and
ankle mobility, along with better muscular control of foot flexion. I
look forward to working with KMI to integrate the Foot Mentor Pro™ into
our clinical practice for our patients.”