Walking has a meaning that transcends the locomotive act of putting one foot in front on the other. The value of movement in both a literal and figurative sense is woven into the fabric of who we are. Words like progress, dynamism and evolution are all positive and words that often inspire, while conversely regression, stasis and devolution are all negative and dispiriting. When we encounter a patient at the Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitation Medicine whose ability to walk or move has been impaired or limited, for these reasons and more we always consider it a priority to get them back to an independent state whereby they can move either on their own or through the assistance of a walking aid, prosthetic or a wheelchair. And yet, there is another tool at our disposal of which Mount Sinai patients whose ability to walk and/or stand due to paralysis, a spinal cord injury (SCI), a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or a brain injury can take full advantage: exoskeletal assisted walking therapy.
An exoskeletal walking devise is a wearable motorized exoskeleton that provides the full or partial support required to allow its wearer the ability to amble around their homes, in the community or in a rehabilitation setting. And what can it do for you? It firmly places your newly dynamic two feet on the path where becoming anything and going anywhere is once again possible; it means that your injury and/or condition will no longer have the capacity to relegate you to a position of immobility and being a spectator in life. Exoskeletal assisted walking therapy has the potential to increase self-esteem, enhance your sleep quality, aid in weight loss and improve bowel and bladder function. Our exoskeletal therapy programs can begin as soon as your doctors clears you – in the meantime, let’s learn a bit about the cutting-edge exoskeletal walking devises that await you, including the Ekso GT and the ReWalk.
Ekso GT
The Ekso GT is primarily a rehabilitation tool for those whose walking has been affected by an SCI, a stroke or other condition to help them relearn standing, weight shifting and stepping patterns for walking, as well as improve their speed, stamina, balance and control. It is strapped onto the body and powered by a system of electric motors, levers and hydraulics. Your Mount Sinai physical therapist will use the Ekso GT’s variable assist software to determine how much power and resistance is required to support each side of the your body to get a clear picture of the extent of paralysis as well your rehabilitation progress. Clinical evidence suggests that patients who rehabilitate with the Ekso GT will eventually be able to walk to some degree unassisted by an exoskeletal devise through some combination of improved functional balance, the ability to walk greater distances and increased gait speed.
ReWalk
The ReWalk is also an amazing tool for exoskeletal assisted walking therapy, but what makes it unique is that it is also available for personal use to comfortably navigate your own home or to explore the world on foot. It is an exoskeletal device primarily for people with an SCI but can also be used for people with other conditions that affect or limit walking. It also features a wearable exoskeleton with motorized hip and knee joints and its moves through sensors that detect upper body movements that create a stepping sequence that mimics a natural gait and walking movement. ReWalk can transform the lives of those whose injury has either prevented or limited the ability to walk and will put them in a position in which they can once again literally go wherever their feet will take them!
If you, a friend or family member might benefit from Exoskeletal Assisted Walking Therapy, please get in touch with us at the Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at (212) 241-6321.
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