Rehabilitation for Guillain-Barre syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks your nerves, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis, leaving the person unable to breathe. This is considered a medical emergency, and the patient must be hospitalized to receive treatment.

Prickling, pins and needles sensations in your fingers, toes, ankles, or wrists are symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Leg weakness that spreads to the upper body.
Inability to walk or climb stairs due to unsteady walking.
Double vision or the inability to move one’s eyes
Difficulties with bladder or bowel function.
An abnormal heartbeat or rate, as well as high blood pressure.
Difficulty breathing.

Guillain-Barre syndrome’s exact cause is unknown. The condition usually manifests itself days or weeks after a respiratory or digestive tract infection. It can strike at any age (though it is more common in adults and the elderly), and both sexes are equally susceptible to the disorder.

Fortunately, even the most severe cases of GBS can be recovered. However, even after recovery, some people may experience long-term issues such as weakness, numbness, or fatigue.

Guillain-Barre syndrome has no known cure. However, some therapies can reduce the severity of the illness, shorten recovery time, and treat the disease’s lingering complications.

In this case, patients must go through the rehabilitation phase, during which they will receive physical rehabilitation and other therapies in order to regain strength, resume daily activities, and prepare to return to their pre-illness life.

In these cases, robotic gloves can not only help therapists or physicians encourage patients to participate more actively in rehabilitation training, but they can also benefit patients by providing individualized rehabilitation to maximize their hand’s function and independence in the comfort of their own homes.

The SIFREHAB-1.0 provides an effective hand recovery program (ADL) that includes a variety of tasks to increase strength and dexterity such as dressing, self-feeding, bathing, laundry, meal preparation, and other similar everyday tasks.

These daily repetitive exercises reduce muscle tension, improve blood circulation, alleviate pain, and prevent muscle weakness.

In addition, the SIFREHAB-1.0 includes Mirror therapy training: The mirror glove, which is worn on the non-affected hand, is used to measure the gripping force and bending angle of each finger joint for motion detection.

The motor glove also provides an assisted driving force to the affected hand when performing training tasks. These exercises will give patients’ brains the impression that they are moving their affected limb. It will help rewire the brain and reduce numbness in the affected limb over time.

Patients with unresolved Guillain-Barre syndrome complications must face a complex challenge in adjusting their bodies, minds, and lives to this new situation.
Activities that were once second nature are now extremely difficult and frustrating. Those who are more active and persistent in their rehabilitation through physical therapy and the use of robotic gloves, on the other hand, are able to regain more function faster and easier.

Reference: Guillain-Barré Syndrome Fact Sheet