GestureTek's Interactive Rehabilitation & Exercise System Helps Patients At Beth Abraham Family of Health Services

Beth Abraham Family of Health Services, a not-for-profit organization, is one of the largest long-term care service providers in New-York State, serving all of New York City, as well as Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The organization, known for its use of leading-edge healthcare technologies, was the first in New York City to install GestureTek's Interactive Rehabilitation and Exercise System (IREX) in one of its skilled nursing facilities, Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (CNR). Today, four IREX systems can be found in the rehabilitation departments at various Beth Abraham facilities, serving patients in both short-term and long-term rehabilitation programs.

IREX uses immersive video gesture control technology to place patients into virtual scenarios where they are guided through clinician-prescribed exercise regimes to test single or combined joint movement, or full body function. More than 20 IREX applications come included with the system, each designed to target specific areas of the body. Patients have fun and gain a sense of control and achievement, while at the same time improving their abilities in everything from balance and trunk control to mobility and executive functioning.

"Research on stroke rehabilitation showed that video game-based therapy can enhance patient effort and motivation during physical therapy sessions," said Randy Palmaira, Executive Director, CNR. "Research on GestureTek, featured on the American Heart Association website and elsewhere, convinced us that the company has an established healthcare customer base and extensive experience in touch-free interactive technology. So when we were looking for a motivational and engaging interactive system to enhance our therapy programs, we turned to GestureTek."

GestureTek offers a full array of interactive gesture-control, multi-sensory and virtual reality game products at gesturetekhealth.com, yet the IREX system is especially designed to make physical, occupational and activation therapy more interesting, stimulating and beneficial. IREX adapts itself to the level of the user, regardless of their physical abilities. Real-time auditory and visual feedback further stimulates the patient. A session reporting tool tracks and monitors patient progress, allowing activities to be made more, or less, challenging, based on the patient's abilities.

Patient reaction to the IREX system is very positive, according to Palmaira. "When patients are first introduced to the system, they are excited and intrigued to see what it has to offer," he said. "When they see how much progress they are making, other benefits, such as increased compliance and adherence to therapy regimes, increased enjoyment and desire to engage in the exercise, and even pain diversion, become evident as well."