mentastim is a new therapy device to initiate movement in patients with pareses after stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain surgery and partial paraplegia. EMG-triggered electrotherapy is the consistent implementation of findings that arise from the principle of neuroplasticity for rehabilitation. It complements conventional therapies for patients who would like to exert greater influence on their rehabilitation.
The mentastim treatment method is based on the scientific finding that the central nervous system is able to store lost movement patterns in other, uninjured parts of the brain after brain injury, thereby making it possible for the brain to relearn them. mentastim assists and accelerates this so-called neuroplasticity effect of the brain through electrical stimulation.
mentastim works according to the principle of EMG-triggered electro stimulation and combines the treatment methods of biofeedback, feedback to the central nervous system and repetition. Here, the patient operates cognitively and envisions, using only the power of his imagination, making a movement with the group of muscles to be treated. This results in a measurable increase of muscle potentials in the form of the so-called EMG value. When this value reaches a threshold value defined by the therapist, the device triggers an electric stimulation. This stimulation provides the brain with positive feedback that a group of muscles has been triggered successfully. By repeating this therapy multiple times, the brain starts to store the movement patterns.
The clinical effectiveness of EMG-triggered muscle stimulation has been proven in studies and meta-analyses. The majority of the patients examined were patients who had suffered a stroke. The main criterion of effectiveness was the improvement of motor ability. mentastim therapy is already being used successfully in several rehabilitation facilities in Germany. Dr. Christoph Garner, MD, Director of the KWA-Klinik Stift Rottal for Neurological and Geriatric Rehabilitation in Bad Griesbach, Germany, is convinced that the therapy works: “mentastim helps a patient to relearn movement patterns and to move the arm, the hand or the legs purposefully again. The therapy is particularly successful when carried out independently several times a day at home. In the process, the therapist continuously adjusts the device to the therapeutic advances.“
mentastim is suitable for use in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation as well as, through the intuitive application of the device, for independent at-home therapy. The patient is the main user of mentastim. The device is prescribed for the patient by a physician or by a therapist who adjust the device for the individual patient. The patient can then use the device independently after instruction.
“mentastim meets the requirements of two groups of users with different needs: the hospital and the therapist on the one hand and the patient in his home environment on the other hand. Therefore, we implemented several different user profiles in the device“, summarizes Theresa Stary, TQ Product Manager for mentastim and goes on to add: “The intuitive operation of the device as well as the acoustic and visual therapy management make it easier for a patient to administer the therapy. To monitor the therapy's success, extensive data are stored on the therapy process which can be retrieved by qualified operators. In addition, the physician and the therapist can store programs tailored to the individual needs of the patient in the mentastim device.“
The device, including accessories, can be purchased from authorized dealers specializing in medical technology. In Germany, sales and distribution are done by Krauth+Timmermann, Hamburg. Sales and distribution in other European countries is currently being developed.
The mentastim treatment method is based on the scientific finding that the central nervous system is able to store lost movement patterns in other, uninjured parts of the brain after brain injury, thereby making it possible for the brain to relearn them. mentastim assists and accelerates this so-called neuroplasticity effect of the brain through electrical stimulation.
mentastim works according to the principle of EMG-triggered electro stimulation and combines the treatment methods of biofeedback, feedback to the central nervous system and repetition. Here, the patient operates cognitively and envisions, using only the power of his imagination, making a movement with the group of muscles to be treated. This results in a measurable increase of muscle potentials in the form of the so-called EMG value. When this value reaches a threshold value defined by the therapist, the device triggers an electric stimulation. This stimulation provides the brain with positive feedback that a group of muscles has been triggered successfully. By repeating this therapy multiple times, the brain starts to store the movement patterns.
The clinical effectiveness of EMG-triggered muscle stimulation has been proven in studies and meta-analyses. The majority of the patients examined were patients who had suffered a stroke. The main criterion of effectiveness was the improvement of motor ability. mentastim therapy is already being used successfully in several rehabilitation facilities in Germany. Dr. Christoph Garner, MD, Director of the KWA-Klinik Stift Rottal for Neurological and Geriatric Rehabilitation in Bad Griesbach, Germany, is convinced that the therapy works: “mentastim helps a patient to relearn movement patterns and to move the arm, the hand or the legs purposefully again. The therapy is particularly successful when carried out independently several times a day at home. In the process, the therapist continuously adjusts the device to the therapeutic advances.“
mentastim is suitable for use in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation as well as, through the intuitive application of the device, for independent at-home therapy. The patient is the main user of mentastim. The device is prescribed for the patient by a physician or by a therapist who adjust the device for the individual patient. The patient can then use the device independently after instruction.
“mentastim meets the requirements of two groups of users with different needs: the hospital and the therapist on the one hand and the patient in his home environment on the other hand. Therefore, we implemented several different user profiles in the device“, summarizes Theresa Stary, TQ Product Manager for mentastim and goes on to add: “The intuitive operation of the device as well as the acoustic and visual therapy management make it easier for a patient to administer the therapy. To monitor the therapy's success, extensive data are stored on the therapy process which can be retrieved by qualified operators. In addition, the physician and the therapist can store programs tailored to the individual needs of the patient in the mentastim device.“
The device, including accessories, can be purchased from authorized dealers specializing in medical technology. In Germany, sales and distribution are done by Krauth+Timmermann, Hamburg. Sales and distribution in other European countries is currently being developed.
