Robotic Assisted Therapy

Overview

Robotic-assisted therapy is an innovative approach to rehabilitation that uses robotic devices to help patients recover or improve functional motor skills after an injury or progressive neurological disorder. It involves repetitive, intensive, and customized exercises guided by robots, aiming to improve motor learning and cortical reorganization. This therapy is particularly beneficial for conditions like stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological impairments.

The benefits of robotic-assisted therapy include:

• Repetitive and Intensive Training – robotic-assisted technology allows for a high number of repetitions with consistent intensity, which is crucial for motor learning and recovery.
• Precision and control of movement – robotic-assisted devices can guide movements of both the upper and lower extremities with accuracy, ensuring proper form and minimizing risk of injury.
• Anti-gravity and body weight support - these devices can be adjusted to provide the right amount of body weight support to allow for optimal training and gradual return to full weight bearing.
• Enhanced motivation and engagement – Robotics-assisted therapy provides simulation of real-world scenarios that allow for greater carryover of skills learned. This makes the therapy more meaningful and enjoyable for patients.

What to Expect

If you have suffered a neurological injury, you may need to relearn many basic activities. Before your treatment can begin, your therapist may use diagnostic technology to evaluate your level of injury. Robotic devices can then be used to aid your recovery by guiding your movements, decreasing the weight of gravity, and simulating challenges that engage both your brain and movement patterns.

Robotic assisted therapy services may include:

Walking rehabilitation

Reha G-EO® System

The G-EO simulates realistic walking or stair climbing patterns with the security of having body weight support. The variable settings allow you to improve weight shifting, step length, and functional strengthening. The ability to perform consistent repetition drives recovery and helps to promote neuroplasticity and functional recovery.

Aretech® Zero-G Gait and Balance System

ZeroG is a robotic body-weight support system that safely allows for various types of functional training activities including overground walking and floor transfers. It provides a safe, comfortable overhead harness system for balance and fall prevention training in a ‘reduced gravity’ environment.

Protokinetics Zeno Walkway Gait Analysis System

A computerized mat that collects data about your gait mechanics and movement pattern. This provides valuable information about how you are walking so your therapist can customize your treatment plan and assess your improvements.

Upper body movement

Tyromotion Diego

The Diego is an upper extremity arm-shoulder device with weighted support that can be used with one arm or both arms simultaneously. It allows for movement through a three-dimensional therapeutic area and can be used with virtual reality. This technology provides the ideal transfer from therapy into everyday activities.

Tyromotion Pablo System

Pablo enhances classical therapy exercises with biofeedback, objective assessments, and gamification for the hand and arm.

Balance Training

C-Mill by Motek®

The C-Mill is an advanced virtual reality treadmill system designed for gait and balance rehabilitation. It uses augmented and virtual reality to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing therapists to train patients in a safe, controlled environment. The system provides real-time feedback and allows patients to practice complex skills that are often encountered on a daily basis.

Bertec® Computerized Dynamic Posturography

Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) is the gold standard in balance evaluation protocols to isolate and quantify impairments that contribute to a balance problem. This device incorporates immersive virtual reality with visual stimuli and dynamic force plates. The programs are designed to not only assess balance impairments, but also to provide advanced training with interactive visual scenarios with complex environments.

Tyromotion Tymo System

This computerized balance board helps you re-learn balance with the help of customized games and activities.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

Questions to Ask Your Provider About Robotic Assisted Therapy

• Are there exercises I can do at home to speed recovery?
• Are the robotic devices you recommend safe?
• Why are robotics an important part of my treatment plan? Are they better than traditional therapy for my type of injury?