Young stroke patients who have no time to go to rehabilitation because of work commitments will soon be able to have a personal trainer at home thanks to a new take-home robotic system.
The Bio-Mechatronic Therapeutic Robotic System was designed for the increasing number of young stroke survivors in the city, according to Raymond Tong Kai-yu of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
'In recent years there has been a surge in the number of stroke victims under the age of 30 coming to me for help. It has to do, in part, with rising obesity. Most of these victims are still working and have no time to go to rehabilitation at hospitals,' Dr Tong said.
'This new system can be rented out and taken home like a piece of gym equipment. Most importantly, we believe it will help patients recover faster and to a bigger extent than traditional methods.'
According to Department of Health figures, 86 per cent of the 24,742 people who suffered strokes last year survived and had to undergo varying degrees of rehabilitation. A total of 5,657 of the survivors were below the age of retirement, with 518 under the age of 39.
Since 2001, 126,664 people have suffered strokes in Hong Kong, with 109,998 surviving. The survival rate for people under 64, about 24 per cent of the total, is 93 per cent.
