Hunterdon Medical Center Offers Breakthrough Technology for Stroke and Neurological Patients
Published March 19, 2010
Imagine technology so advanced that it may help stroke and other neurological patients to regain lost mobility and also may enable them to achieve greater independence than they believed to be possible. This highly sophisticated technology is now a reality at Hunterdon Medical Center. Hunterdon Medical Center’s Physical Therapy is pleased to announce the addition of the NESS L300 Foot Drop System to its outpatient locations. The device, which received the prestigious Gold 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award, will be used as a part of a comprehensive neurological rehabilitation program in an effort to help patients regain mobility.
Central nervous system injuries often result in foot drop--leading to instability and difficulty walking. The NESS L300™ neuro-rehabilitation system is a revolution in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) technology, designed to help patients experiencing foot drop to regain mobility and help "normalize" walking and gait. The L300 uses wireless communication to "talk" to its components, eliminating cumbersome wires and allowing the clinician the ability to fine-tune settings while the patient is actually walking helping to make it easier to walk on flat ground, uneven surfaces or climb stairs.
This device is worn on the lower-leg and foot in place of a foot brace. The sensors help detect when the patient’s foot is in the air or on the ground, and electrodes transmit painless electrical stimulation to the peroneal nerve and anterior tibialis muscle to signal the calf muscle and correct the gait. This user-friendly system is appropriate for a broad range of conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and incomplete spinal cord injury.
"We are thrilled to offer this incredibly advanced technology to our patients. As a complement to our comprehensive neurological rehabilitation program, it will help achieve more long-term results in half the time," said Donna Manzo-Dragon, MSPT, Clinical Coordinator of Physical Therapy at Hunterdon Medical Center. "When patients regain the ability to walk again and with proper gait, we help them recapture their independence and a sense of normalcy -- we help them improve their quality of life."
To learn more about the NESS L300™ neuro-rehabilitation system call 908-782-7454. Hunterdon Medical Center’s Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy offices are located at:
Occupational/Physical Therapy
6 Sandhill Road, Suite # 101, Flemington
Phone: (908) 782-7454
Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center at Whitehouse
537 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station
Phone: (908) 534-7600
Physical Therapy at Hunterdon Medical Pavilion
190 Route 31, Suite 300, Flemington
Phone: (908) 237-7096
Occupational/Physical Therapy at Washington
140 Boulevard, Washington
Phone: (908) 689-3800
Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center in Clinton
1738 Route 31 North, Suite 103, Clinton
Phone: (908) 735-3930