Online Physical Therapy For Cerebral Palsy

New technologies are slowly replacing more traditional methods of therapy—including face-to-face interaction—for patients with neurological conditions. A group of researchers at the University of Michigan are leading the pack with a new system that would allow those with cerebral palsy to go online and connect with physical therapists from the comfort of their own home.

Adults suffering from cerebral palsy often have a difficult time juggling their schedules. Additionally, many insurance carriers don’t cover the costs of therapy, making the experimental Internet program even more worthwhile.

The Upper Limb Training and Assessment Program (ULTrA) was developed by medical experts at the University of Michigan Health System to make movement-based therapy more assessable and convenient for adults with cerebral palsy. It is designed specially for those with hand and upper limb impairment.

“Physical and occupational therapy are the most important treatments for cerebral palsy,” said Edward Hurvitz, M.D., Department Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “The ULTrA program works with the idea of bringing therapy into the home to allow adults to do their therapy at a time that’s convenient for them.”

ULTrA is designed to allow patients to connect online with “virtual trainers” and real life therapy experts. The project is also currently gathering data to see how well this new type of rehab is working.