Therapeutic innovation - exoskeleton powered by lower limbs and a tilt table with a stepping device

Project description

Neuron has for two decades been involved in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation of people with psychomotor dysfunctions, including children, athletes and adults who need to regain functions lost or impaired due to illness or injury. We keep searching for solutions which can make neurological rehabilitation more efficient and better targeted at patients’ needs. Such solutions should influence the key therapeutic parametres, such as pain reduction, and improvement of psychological condition, muscle strength and  cardiorespiratory endurance. Market research shows that the supply of rehabilitation services using exoskeletons and verticalisation tables in Poland is not sufficient - there are far more disabled persons ready to undertake such rehabilitation than the available services.

Under this project we have therefore introduced a rehabilitation service provided by means of an exoskeleton powered by lower limbs and a verticalisation table with a stepping device. These types of solutions address the needs of people whose motor skills are significantly reduced due to accidents or severe neurological diseases – and who are unable to recover on their own or through traditional rehabilitation. Neuron provides services using exoskeletons and verticalisation tables during rehabilitation holidays (8-14 days) in our rehabilitation center in the picturesque village of Małe Gacno (north of Poland).

Apart from purchasing the above-mentioned devices under the project, we established cooperation with a research unit that helped us develop functional documentation, piloted the implementation of the service, trained our staff, and developed methods and guidelines for quality assessment of the rehabilitation process.

The therapy results show that it reduces spasticity of lower limbs and enhances muscle strength in patients with spinal cord or spine injuries. It has been proven that the new service brings general improvement of health, and lowers the perception of pain of various origin (spasticity,  immobilisation, comorbidities, etc.). 60% of the tested patients confirmed that the new rehabilitation methods made them feel significantly less pain. That is extremely important, as pain lowers the quality of life and reduces social participation. They also report a holistic improvement of health and well-being, including circulation, the function of bowel and bladder related to verticalization, and psychological benefits.

An additional result of the project is an improvement of our therapists’ work ergonomics, as the modern devices lower their physical overstrain.