THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS RESEARCH ARE THE DESIGN, PROTO- TYPE, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION OF BODY POSITIONING DEVICES FOR REHABILITATION OF HEAD INJURY, COMA, AND STROKE VICTIMS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AND NEURO- MUSCULAR DISORDERS.

THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS RESEARCH ARE THE DESIGN, PROTO- TYPE, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION OF BODY POSITIONING DEVICES FOR REHABILITATION OF HEAD INJURY, COMA, AND STROKE VICTIMS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AND NEURO- MUSCULAR DISORDERS. A PRONE POSITION IS DETRIMENTAL TO RECOVERY AND PROMOTES NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS AND PSYCHO- LOGICAL BARRIERS. TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO A VICTIM OF SEVERE HEAD INJURY, COMA, AND STROKE. REGARDLESS OF APPARENT STRENGTH AT A GIVEN TIME, THE PATIENT SHOULD BE WORKED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. STIMULATION AND REACTION OF MUSCLES AGAINST THE PULL OF GRAVITY IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOOLWITH WHICH TO WORK. A PATIENT MAY NOT HAVE THE NEURO- MUSCULAR CONTROL TO RESPOND ON COMMAND BUT WHEN EXPOSED TO AN OFF-BALANCED POSITION, THE MUSCLES WILL RESPOND. CONTINUOUS PROPER BODY POSITIONING FOR WEIGHT BEARING, STRETCHING, AND EXPOSURE TO OFF-BALANCE POSITIONS ON PROPER POSITIONING EQUIPMENT, DESIGNED TO GIVE A PATIENT THE ADVANTAGE OF LEVERAGE, LEADS TO PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT. PSYCHOLOGICAL SATISFACTION WITH IMPROVEMENTS IS IMPORTANT ASWELL AND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS DESIRABLE. NEURO- MUSCULAR CONTROL WILL BE REESTABLISHED AND SPASTICITY WILL DECREASE. THE LONG-TERM THERAPEUTIC OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOPTHERAPY EQUIPMENT THAT IS REASONABLY AFFORDABLE AND CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MARKETED AND DISTRIBUTED.