Stroke recovery with Biomove

Do NOT confuse Biomove with Bioness!

2011-08-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

Biomove 5000

The Biomove stroke rehabilitation devices are EMG-triggered neuromuscular stimulators to regain voluntary muscle control after a stroke.
This process is called neuroplasticity and the excellent results are obtained by teaching the brain to re-develop neural pathways for the affected muscles and as such to regain muscle control.

Bioness for hand

The Bioness products are only Functional Electrical Muscle stimulators assisting in muscle movement, however regaining muscle control by the stroke survivor is just wishful thinking.

Bioness for foot

Bioness thought to conquer the market with aggressive marketing techniques but seems to have failed in their efforts and has announced that it will greatly reduce its activities.

The CEO of the company admits "Bioness urgently needs to improve management of its sales network".

Bioness only had an annual turnover of $20 million for several years while at the same time burning $30 million a year and the company has only survived thanks to loans made by the major shareholder of the company.

In contrast, Curatronic Ltd., the manufacturer of the Biomove devices, is a healthy and profitable private company and offers excellent stoke rehab devices for very competitive prices!

Forum posting on a stroke board in Australia, August 2010

2011-05-19T02:20:00.000-07:00

Hi There!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have a Biomove 5000, check it out on www.biomove.com

I personally found it a very good help "jump starting" my hand. Basically it's a machine that uses EMG controlled electrical stimulation (for your hand and feet) on your muscles. Once the muscles fire the stimulation it opens the hand.

My hand is about 95% on the way there - I can write, drive etc.
Victoria Armstrong

Not too late for Biomove!

2011-05-06T03:25:00.000-07:00

4 Years post stroke
6 months regular Biomove use

Dear Ben,

I would like to inform you that thanks to your invention my arm after almost 4 years is out of the sling after approval of the professor of the neurology department.

I did not yet inform this professor that this is thanks to the Biomove because in the beginning he was against the use of the device but I will tell him later in order to keep things interesting!

Thanks and best regards,
Michiel Peterson, France

Sorry I could not resist to share this with the world...

2011-03-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

According to thesaurus.com the definition of a yahoo is a stupid, ignorant person and only now I understand why Yahoo! is written with an exclamation mark!

Today we received a refund check for our Biomove stroke recovery devices advertising campaign from Yahoo! because of their merger with Microsoft advertising. The check was mailed from the USA in an envelope with a $0.98 stamp on it.

So far so good, however we had a real good laugh after opening the envelope because we found the following check enclosed:

I am so glad I did resist buying Yahoo! shares...

There was not a dry eye...

2011-01-23T01:03:00.000-08:00

I have had the pleasure of seeing this unit in action. The stroke victim could not lift up his foot due to damage from his stroke.

At the Heart and Stroke meeting, where I demonstrated the unit, there was not a dry eye as he and his family watched his foot move for the first time in two years.

It is amazing and an important "must have" in the long road of recovery.

Sheila Hatfield, R.N. Canada

What is the difference between 'regular' biofeedback?

2011-01-05T03:31:00.000-08:00

I am often asked “What is the difference is between “regular” EMG biofeedback and EMG-triggered muscle stimulation, which is also a form of biofeedback”?

Because I developed a full range of biofeedback devices between 1979 and 1983 I take the freedom to say that I have very extensive experience in this specific field see here some of the devices I developed already decades ago.

Any EMG biofeedback device can be used for muscle rehabilitation but the results of a device with only visual and/or auditory feedback are not even coming close to the results of the Biomove devices because of the Biomove's 5000 super sensitivity and where the clear visualized EMG biofeedback is combined with actual muscle movement resulting in excellent re-learning of voluntary muscle movement (neuroplasticity = "rewiring" of the brain).

The Biomove devices have been developed specifically for stroke rehabilitation where the "rest" nerve signals coming from the brain are unable to trigger the muscles sufficiently to move on their own. Now having the assistance of the Biomove for training of the brain to actually obtain muscle movement even where the brain is unable to send sufficient nerve signals to the muscles the person wants to move, creating the impression on the brain that the initiated minimal movement by the brain is indeed correct. This encourages the brain to send stronger electrical nerve signals to the muscles affected. This causes the brain to develop alternative neural pathways to increase these nerve signals while improving the actual muscle movements.

This cannot even be compared to EMG biofeedback alone (which does not offer the "reward" of actual muscle movement) and the results of the brain's ability to recover by means of redeveloping new neural pathways (neuroplasticity) are minimal only and not sufficient required for regaining voluntary muscle contol.

The ideal device (Biomove 5000) is by far preferable for any stroke recovery training because of the clear visual nerve signal presentation of the actual muscle activity combined with automatic trigger level adaptation according to the patient’s own movement abilities.

The Biomove 5000 does even work error free where the stroke survivors own voluntary muscle movement is hardly visible because of the device’s excellent ability to detect these very weak EMG signals disturbance free.

In addition the single knob operation makes the Biomove 5000 extremely easy to use by anybody including the stroke survivor.

Stroke Heroes act FAST!

2010-09-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

Video manual Biomove 5000 stroke rehab device

2010-08-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

Spinal Cord Study Shepherd Center

2010-07-04T00:46:00.000-07:00

The Spinal Cord Injury Research Crawford Research Institute Shepherd Center is one of the top Rehabilitation Hospitals in the USA, using the Biomove 5000 for rehabilitation of their SCI patients.

Dr. Deborah Backus, Ph.D., PT is Associate Director and in addition Assistant Professor of Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Under her supervision the following Spinal Cord Case Study was performed, showing very encouraging results.

Participant: A 26 year old female, 5 years post-traumatic SCI, was trained with the Biomove to improve upper extremity strength. Her neurological level of injury is C3, and her injury is classified as AIS C, or motor incomplete.

Assessment: Outcome measures include a strength assessment, spasticity assessment using the Modified Ashworth, and proprioception assessment. All outcomes were collected rpe-, midway, and post-training.

Training: The participant was trained inconsistently due to her schedule. She attended 33 sessions over a one month period of time, ranging from 1 – 3 times per week. The participant used the Biomove to train her right bicep and right wrist extensor. Each training session last approximately one hour.

Results: The participant reported significant improvement in the ability to feel and use her muscles. She reported that she was not able to do that although she had been using traditional electrical stimulation for several years. The OT who had been treating the participant on and off for several years reported improved control during functional assessments and use of a sling for ADL and feeding.

Tables 1- 3 demonstrate the outcomes from the strength/active movement test (Table 1), the assessment of spasticity using the Modified Ashworth (Table 2), and the proprioception evaluation (Table 3).

Slight improvements are noted in the active control of her right bicep, as well as proprioception in her elbow and wrist. There was no meaningful change in the Modified Ashworth scores.

Conclusion: Although this participant with C3 tetraplegia did not train consistently with the Biomove, she did experience improvements of somatosensory perception and active control of her right (trained) bicep and wrist extensor. Further study is warranted in individuals with incomplete SCI.

Table 1 presents the changes in manual muscle test and active movement at pre-test, midway through training, and post-test.

Table 2 demonstrates scores on Modified Ashworth pre, midway, and post-test.

	Pre-test	Midway	Post-test
R Wrist/finger flexors	0	1	0
R Wrist/finger extensors	0	0	0
R Elbow flexors	0	0	0
R Elbow extensors	3	3	4

Table 3 presents the data related to proprioception assessment.

	Pre-test	Midway	Post-test
Right Wrist Flexion	3	6	7
Right Wrist Extension	6	9	7
Right Elbow Flexion	9	10	10
Right Elbow Extension	9	10	10

Touch base from Australia, Biomove 5000 use

2010-03-10T02:30:00.000-08:00

We have had a stroke survivor, Peter, who has been attending for an intensive therapy program daily for one month - upper limb rehab post CVA. I have been part of a team of therapists providing the clinical input.

We have used the Biomove 5000 most days and have found it does certainly improve performance through the session and we have definitely seen carry-over into daily function. Pete is an interesting patient because his actual movement is quite good and improving all the time however the sensory loss is very profound and this and the neglect is the primary issue.

We have seen the Biomove very effective at training Pete to maintain wrist extension during functional grasp/release activities. I think we have not yet seen the best out of the Biomove!

Jenni Dabelstein, BPhty, MHSc, MBA
Physiotherapist, Specialized rehab practice
Brisbane, Australia

Stroke recovery

2009-12-24T03:13:00.001-08:00

What is missing in this article is a description about muscle re-education based on electrical muscle stimulation triggered by 'rest' nerve signals still generated by the brain after stroke. Even tiny EMG signals able to create some minimal muscle movement can be used for this technology. Refer to my blog.

in reference to: Stroke recovery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (view on Google Sidewiki)

Customer Seasons Greetings to our company

2009-12-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

Hello Ben,

Thank you for all your support throughout the year. It is so wonderful to have such support and the machines are doing a wonderful job!
Thank you for all the effort that has gone into this marvelous field.

I wish you all a very pleasant season and a good health and much happiness in 2010.

Regards,
Susan

Success with Biomove 3000

2009-09-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

We just received the following email:

My name is Linda Jackson and we live in the Panhandle of Texas.
In 2006 my husband Bob, at age 58, had a major stroke. He was in the hospital for 6 weeks. He had hardly any use of his left hand and left leg.

I researched the Internet for help for his hand recovery and found out about the Biomove 3000 and how it helped so many others. I asked the therapists if this product would help and they told me that it would, so I got the prescription and ordered one.

When we first got it Bob could not move his fingers at all. He used the Biomove every day with his physical therapy and after a few weeks we began to see a notible difference in his ability not only to move his fingers but his arm also.

To make a long story short, after several months of Biomove therapy and physical therapy for his leg he now has about 90% use of his arm and hand; he can hold things, move his fingers independently of each other and pick up things.

His strength is amazing and we feel that the Biomove played a big part in his success. I would recommend this product to anyone who has had a stroke or brain injury as so many hospitals are at loss as what to do to get a patient as much recovery as possible.

You do not have to live with loss of function in a limb as Bob is proof that with the right treatment the movements greatly improve! The stimulation that the Biomove provides is just what those muscles need to wake back up. We are believers in this great product!

Thank you,
Linda Jackson

Another satisfied Biomove customer!

2009-08-06T00:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Ben,

Following our telephone conversation I thought you might be interested in my experience of using the Biomove 3000.

My partner is in het mid seventies and before suffereing a stroke in October 2007 she was extremely fit and active. The stroke left her paralysed down her right side unable to walk or use her right arm. She spent the next four months in hospital and rehab where treatment seemed to concentrate on getting her walking again with practically nothing being done to improve the condition of her arm, which by this time was badly atrophied and with severe subluxation of the shoulder causing a lot of pain when she tried to move.

During this period I asked several times about electrical stimulation as means of getting some tone into the muscles of her arm but received very negative response. I decided therefore to seek information on the internet where I discovered your wonderful machine which appeared to do exactly what I had been asking about with the added benefit of being triggered by signals from the brain.

We started using the device on her forearm and although she could only manage 10 wrist movements to start with the fact that she was controlling the movement greatly improved her morale. After the initial usage progress was quite rapid and by the end of the month she could continue for twenty minutes.

I then started to use the Biomove on her upper arm with similar results enabling her to straighten her arm completely when using the device.

The effect this has had on her arm is quite dramatic, the muscle tone greatly improved and the subluxation of the shoulder has disappeared along with the pain and discomfort it caused!

Rod Scholes, United Kingdom

Satisfied Biomove user.

2009-07-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is heart warming to get out of the blue emails like this one we received today:

"Have been using the Biomove 3000 since 2005 due to a stroke. Still doing OK. I am 84 years old now. Wonderful device!"

Arie Rosenbach, NY, USA

Israeli inventions at the forefront of stroke rehabilitation

2009-06-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

This week I participated as invited speaker at the Israeli national physiotherapy conference, which was dedicated to new technologies for Stroke Rehabilitation.

Very interesting to see that indeed several important technological inventions for stroke rehab do indeed originate and are manufactured in Israel.

Some examples: the Bioness FES system for foot drop, the SmartStep gait assessment system, the Handtutor for hand rehab and last but not least the Biomove 5000 EMG-triggered electostimulation biofeedback system to stimulate real neuro-plasticity, to encourage voluntary muscle movements, developed by our company.

In addition it was intersting to see some new developments in the field of virtual reality training programs dedicated to stroke rehabilitation.

I trust (or better: I know) that there is more on the way, which actually makes me somewhat proud of the advances made in this field over here!

Professional opinion on the Biomove 5000

2009-04-14T03:05:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share with you the email I just received from Peter G Levine, co-director of the Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Laboratory, and a researcher with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Peter is the author of the of the book "Stronger after Stroke: Your Roadmap to Recovery" and he writes a monthly column that explores scientific and technological developments in stroke recovery for "Advance for Physical Therapists".

"The Biomove 5000 is a great machine, of that there is no doubt. It is intuitive, setup is easy, and it doesn't have the annoying computer/digital/electronic interface that many of the competing machines have."

"Estim is the way underutilized modality, especially during the period when stroke survivors have emergent spasticity. I see and test way too many survivors who are at the point of no return, contracture has set in, and it's too late to do anything but surgical intervention, or maybe serial casting. I see estim as an external set of nerves that bypass the central nervous system. It is underused. EMG-based estim provides the necessary X. factor to begin to drive neuroplastic change."

Biomove Stroke recovery system presentation

2009-03-19T07:46:00.001-07:00

Presentation Biomove Stroke recovery system

View more presentations from Ben Philipson.

About my company

2009-03-19T04:43:00.001-07:00

My name is Ben Philipson and I was born in 1949 in The Netherlands. I studied biomedical electronic engineering in Amsterdam and I hold a masters degree in electronics.

I have worked for a medical device marketing and manufacturing company in Amsterdam for almost ten years. In my function as Technical Director for the Research & Development department I was responsible for all technology, including modifications and development of new features for the equipment of the company [cardiac monitors, nurse stations, defibrillators, physical therapy devices etc.].

During my “free time” [mostly late at night after the kids were put to bed] I developed a range of biofeedback, electroacupuncture and laser devices. BTW I was the first person in the world interfacing biofeedback equipment with a computer [remember the Apple II+ computer?] to show the biofeedback signal in a simple visual way to the user.

In 1983 I emigrated to Israel with my family and continued working in the medical field for various companies with responsibilities for sales and product management.

After extensive traveling for many years in many countries I set up Curatronic Ltd. in the year 2000 and I very much enjoy the short daily traveling time of just one minute from my home to the office!

Our company, in addition to pulsed electromagnetic field therapy devices, also manufactures EMG-triggered Electrical Muscle Stimulators for stroke rehabilitation, see the Biomove website here