Techno Tools for Spinal Cord Patients

Advanced technology is enabling spinal cord patients to better manage their daily living activities, and UAB’s (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC) has set up a unique facility to show the way.

October 20, 2008

• UAB opens Stover Assistive Technology Laboratory

• New technology helps spinal cord patients cope

• One of only two such labs in country

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Advanced technology is enabling spinal cord patients to  better manage their daily living activities, and UAB's (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC) has set up a unique facility to show the way. In a setting duplicated in only one other place in the country, SRC has developed the Dr. Samuel S. Stover Assistive Technology Laboratory, equipped with the latest technological tools that can assist those with spinal cord injuries to function independently.

Named for a former chair of UAB's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the laboratory hosts a variety of advanced technology grouped in four areas; home, office, school and entertainment. The laboratory is designed to educate in-patients with spinal cord injury on assistive devices that they could obtain for their own use upon discharge.

"Patients arrive at SRC following spinal cord injury wondering how or if they will be able to do the things they used to do before the injury," said Amie Jackson, M.D., professor and chair of UAB's physical medicine and rehabilitation department. "This laboratory will show them some of the tools available to help them adjust to any loss of mobility."

UAB will dedicate and demonstrate the new laboratory in ceremonies honoring Dr. Stover at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Center for Psychiatric Medicine, 1713 6th Ave. South.

Each of the four areas in the laboratory boast several assistive devices that patients might find helpful in daily living. The lab allows patients to learn how to use the devices and understand how the devices can assist them prior to discharge.

The home station has an environmental control unit that can remotely run any electrical appliance or device....from lights and televisions to washing machines.  The station also has a self-answering telephone that can dial numbers with the touch of a single button.... a great help to those with limited mobility.

The school station has a combination laptop/tablet PC with voice recognition software in both English and Spanish, allowing users to fully operate the PC through voice command, stylus, a keyboard or mouse.

The work station has a desk top computer with multiple means of navigation, allowing patients with limited mobility to move a cursor with the part of their body they have the most control over...their head or feet, for example.

The entertainment station features common home electronics, such as Blu-ray player, a Wii gaming system and a flat screen TV.  Wii games such as Wii Fit and sports games are proving to be very beneficial in rehab by encouraging repetitious actions in a fun way.

"The laboratory will be available to patients outside of normal rehab hours, so patients can play a Wii game in the evening or experiment with the various technologies," said Phil Klebine, project coordinator for the lab. "The idea is to expand their in-house rehab opportunities while introducing them to what is available on the market to assist them once they return home."

The lab is primarily funded by a grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation along with contributions by UAB's Spain Rehabilitation Nursing and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.