Can I Benefit from Tailwind?

Tailwind is a new research-backed exercise device allowing stroke survivors and other brain injured people to improve arm function and range of motion.
To use Tailwind effectively takes effort. To qualify to use it the most important question to ask is: Do you have some forward movement at your shoulder?
Starting with your affected (weaker) arm at your side, can you swing your arm forward 3 inches from the shoulder?
If you can answer “yes” to this question, Tailwind could help you improve your arm movement.
As with any exercise program, ask your healthcare professional to make sure that you are ready for a home exercise program.

Who are Anatomical Concepts (UK) - We are Masters of Rehabilitation Engineering. Working with private individuals, healthcare professionals, businesses and the NHS since 1996.

Introducing Tailwind

Here you can learn about Tailwind^™, a unique device that clinical studies have demonstrated can permanently improve arm movement in stroke patients who have lost upper extremity function - even years after their stroke event. The device is also helpful in improving arm function following brain injury, tumor and cerebral palsy. Tailwind is a home-based exercise device developed by researchers at the University of Maryland Medical School.

Effective for Stroke Survivors

Tailwind consists of two handles that move along independent resistance-free tracks. The user moves the handles along each track from different starting marks - and has auditory cues to guide when to move his or her arms. It is a "sound-to-brain" neural pathway retraining approach that is theorised to help users with mild stroke symptoms achieve life-altering results.

First of a Kind for Stroke

Tailwind has been demonstrated in clinical studies to permanently improve arm movement in stroke patients who have lost upper extremity function. In published clinical studies, the science behind Tailwind was found to be a potentially useful solution in stroke rehabilitation. So don't let discouragement from years of rehab that did not deliver the results you wanted prevent you from trying new Tailwind. If you have the motivation to work with this device, research suggests it will work for you.

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Grasp the idea quickly!

We have in place videos that will give a quick overview of Tailwind.
Learn about the research behind Tailwind, hear from the developers and see it in use by clients.
A second video shows the training and setup process in more detail.
Select MEDIA from the PRODUCT Menu or click here to start.

Tailwind - BATRAC

An exercise device proven to improve arm movement in stroke survivors in as little as 6 weeks.
Based on the BATRAC technique

Rehabilitation
in your own hands

Arm exercise product for Stroke Survivors

The Tailwind Story - University of Maryland

In life – and in science especially – there are sometimes happy accidents, turns in the road you don’t expect but which lead in exciting directions. Such was the case with Jill Whitall, PhD, professor, and Sandra McCombe-Waller, PT, PhD, associate professor, whose research into a bilateral arm rehabilitation device unexpectedly brought them a patented product and a whirlwind of attention.

Making Progress with Music

Tailwind is supplied with a metronome to help clients set and keep to a rhythm. We suspect that lots of repetitions in a rhythmic pattern help the body relearn how to use an arm affected by a stroke. A new client shared a view with me which I feel is quite inspiring.

He writes as follows:-

Rehabilitation Methods for Motor Function

Modern medical practice is evidence based. In other words, ideally guided by what has been shown to be best practice. Having best evidence to support or refute the value of particular types of treatment is obviously important. Unfortunately high quality evidence of treatment value is not always available or can be hard to obtain. In rehabilitation, simply the variability of the condition and the lack of ability to control all of the influences that could potentially affect recovery, make it difficult to accumulate strong research evidence.

When it comes to therapy to restore motor function you might be surprised that there are a wide range of approaches, mostly not backed by strong research evidence. So what does this tell us abou the best approaches?

Patterns of Recovery Following Stroke

The aim of rehabilitation is to achieve functional independence; restoring as far as possible the lifestyle and dignity of the individual. Stroke affects many people who survive and then go through a process of recovery that medical science would see as reasonably predictable. However, the aim of therapy is to amplify and enhance recovery and break these predictable patterns for the better. The good news is that it is not hard to find individuals whose patterns of recovery are better than expected. A nice goal would be to change our collective belief about what is possible. Here is what the textbooks might tell us to expect.

Mr and Mrs E's story - Persistence

This case study is an interesting and positive story of the application of Tailwind with an individual affected by a severe stroke. As you will see, the story has a few twists and turns before reaching a positive outcome. On initial examination Mr E had some forward movement available as suggested in the“self-test” for product suitability. However, it was marginal as much of the shoulder movement available was across the body rather than forward and backward.

Interview with the inventor of Tailwind

This short article is based on an interview with Sandy McCombe-Waller and Jane Whitall the inventors of Tailwind. The article entitled "A stroke of genius" was published in the magazine Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants, Vol 20, Issue 20, Page 26.