IMAGINE for a moment not being able to feel the weight of a pen in your hand, the grasp of a tool at work nor the warmth of a loved one’s touch. Sadly, for around 200,000 Australian stroke victims every year, the loss of touch sensation is a devasting reality.
A ground-breaking and world class program developed by researchers at La Trobe University in Melbourne, however, has made significant inroads into helping stroke patients regain their sense of touch.
SENSe Therapy, or study of the Effectiveness of Neurorehabilitation, has recently been launched across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia involving universities and health care providers. Delivered from four specialist SENSe therapy centres and from eight healthcare networks, the innovative treatment, ‘Helps to reprogram the brain so that people again know when they are touching objects, can recognise textures, and know where their hand is in space,” says Professor Leanne Carey, program lead at La Trobe University.
The six-week treatment is delivered by specifically trained physiotherapists and occupational therapists and works to exploit the brain’s capacity to adapt and learn new skills giving stroke survivors improved sensory functionality. When a stroke patient loses their sense of touch, confidence and independence can quickly erode, but with a growing number of therapists and centres upskilling in SENSe therapy, these patients are able to not only regain functionality but are also able to take a significant step towards recovery.
SENSe Therapy healthcare networks are available at Austin Health, Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Epworth Healthcare, St John of God Frankston, St Vincet’s Health.
