Robotic Rehabilitation

What is Robotic Rehabilitation?

Robotic rehabilitation systems have started to be used in the field of rehabilitation with the advancement of technology. Robotic Rehabilitation Systems can be used in any disease with walking difficulties. In addition to classical rehabilitation practices, especially in the rehabilitation of neurological diseases, the support of robotic rehabilitation, one of the new technological approaches, is provided at the highest level of treatment. With robotic rehabilitation, not only patients who cannot walk, but also patients with gait disturbance benefit.

Robotic Rehabilitation System Can Be Used In Which Diseases?

The robotic rehabilitation system can be used primarily in neurological disease groups with gait disorders, patients with loss of balance and after orthopedic surgical operations that cause loss of walking functions.

Patients who often need robotic therapy in treatment;

• Hemiplegic patients: Patients who have had a stroke (paralysis) experience loss of walking functions. It is important to ensure that the patient gains the correct walking pattern during the rehabilitation process. An improper gait pattern can often be permanent. For this reason, robotic rehabilitation can be used to develop the correct walking pattern in the early stages of the treatment, and to gain independent walking and walking activity on different floors in the following periods.

• Patients with spinal cord injury: Patients with spinal cord injuries due to falls, traffic accidents or any trauma may experience partial or complete loss of walking activity. Providing mobilization is also very important for these patients. 

• Cerebral Palsy (Paralysis of the Brain) Robotic rehabilitation, which is applied to provide walking training in children with Cerebral Palsy, is highly beneficial and applied as a part of the rehabilitation program.

• Multiple Sclerosis and other muscle diseases: In the rehabilitation of all muscle diseases, especially Multiple Sclerosis, robotic rehabilitation is used to regain walking activity and to adapt the muscles to this activity.

• Parkinson’s Disease: In patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a short stepping pattern develops and walking activity is mostly affected. With robotic rehabilitation, it is aimed to be more independent in their daily activities by giving correct walking training to Parkinson’s patients.

• After orthopedic surgical operations that cause loss of walking functions: After some surgical operations, walking activity should be started with a certain percentage of body weight. In such cases, robotic rehabilitation is utilized.

Are There Any Differences Between Robotic Rehabilitation Systems?

There are two types of robotic rehabilitation systems as end-effector and exoskeloton. The robotic rehabilitation system in Rommer Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center is an end effector system, that is, it is supported by a machine from the last link of the kinematic chain (outpatient).

Since the hip and knee joints are free in end effector systems, the patient’s active participation in walking training is ensured. The patient moves with the robotic rehabilitation system and learns to exercise the correct muscle at the right time. This ensures that the patient walks in a shorter time and the gait is better quality. End effector systems give better results than other systems in learning to walk again as they allow the active participation of the patient.

Unlike other robotic systems, the patient is supported by a two-point weight bearing system, thus providing a better body stabilization. The two-point weight carrying system provides the opportunity to work with symmetrical, asymmetrical, dynamic and static weight carrying system in different loads and thus a support system suitable for the needs of the person is created. Among the existing robotic systems, only Woodway Lokohelp Robotic Rehabilitation System has this feature.

With the Woodway Lokohelp Robotic Rehabilitation system in our center, walking training is carried out on different surfaces, unlike many other systems. The inclination angle (ramp) allows patients to practice the hill climbing activity where they have the greatest trouble. When this mode is used, the back leg muscles are more activated.