Corentin Senaillet, occupational therapist at the Le Pasori centre, talks about the integration of Develter Innovation’s Rehab Evolution simulator into his patients’ rehabilitation programme.
In the Nièvre region, rehabilitation also involves driving. At Le Pasori center, Corentin Senaillet uses the Rehab Evolution simulator to support patients who have temporarily lost their independence, particularly after a stroke or trauma. It’s a tool that he sees as a key step in helping them to get back into driving safely, progressively and in a personalised way.
Combining cognitive challenges, an educational approach and feedback, he explains why this simulator has become a real asset in the care of vulnerable people.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
I’m Corentin Senaillet, an occupational therapist since 2017. Since then, I’ve been working at the Le Pasori rehabilitation centre in Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire. The centre has a full hospitalisation ward and a day hospitalisation ward. Our main patients are in neurology, but we also treat simple and complex cases in orthopaedics and traumatology.
What types of pathologies do you treat?
In neurology, this concerns strokes and degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. In orthopaedics-traumatology, it may involve road accidents, prostheses (hip, knee), or more serious situations, such as amputations or DIY accidents that have caused severe injuries.
Why did you include a driving simulator in your treatment programme?
Driving is a key factor in maintaining independence, especially in our region where public transport is limited. For certain neurological pathologies such as stroke, the law requires a driver’s licence to be revalidated. This involves assessing the driver’s cognitive and motor skills, as well as his or her ability to get back behind the wheel. The simulator provides an initial test and training phase, with possible adaptations to the driving position. We discovered Develter simulators via Medimex, a company specialising in functional rehabilitation equipment. As a centre focused on innovation, we had already identified the simulator as a relevant tool for enhancing our technical facilities.
Why did you choose the Develter Innovation simulator?
What convinced us was its clearly re-educational approach. The work of Isabelle Marchalot, an occupational therapist, showed us that it was not only aimed at learner drivers, but that it was also very useful in a rehabilitation context. The scenarios are rich, realistic and adaptable, making it a tool for both assessment and re-education. Of course, this is no substitute for driving on the road, but it is a valuable, safe and progressive step in the process of getting back into driving.
How does the simulator fit in with your practices?
We make sure we offer it at the most appropriate time. We must not intervene too early: some patients are still fragile, and a neuropsychological assessment is systematically carried out beforehand. The aim is also to avoid raising false hopes. We have introduced an initial familiarisation session, lasting around 10 to 15 minutes, in a very simple environment with no other vehicles. This enables us to assess basic skills, such as using the indicators, keeping to the trajectory and changing direction. Once the patient is comfortable, we move on to more complex exercises, close to real driving.
Is it an easy tool for carers to use?
It took a bit of a learning curve, especially at the outset, as support was still limited. We identified one or two referees to explore all the available scenarios and select those most relevant to our needs. Today, the tool is very intuitive. It provides invaluable data, notably on reaction times, and records the entire session. This makes it possible to review sessions from several angles, which is very useful for correcting behavior and making patients aware of their mistakes.
A word about your collaboration with Develter Innovation?
The team is highly responsive, as is their distributor Medimex. In the event of a problem, they can take control remotely and quickly resolve any technical issues. The simulator is stable and reliable, which is really appreciated in everyday use.