Lokomat Pro Robotic Gait Training/Strengthening
Locomotor gait training, also referred to as "weight-supported ambulation" is a relatively new approach to potentially achieve proper gait after a neurological injury or illness. The Hocoma Lokomat Pro is the first robotic driven gait training system that assists walking movements of gait-impaired individuals and is used to improve mobility in individuals following stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases and injuries.
The theory behind locomotor training is that paralysis causes "learned non-use" of muscles. But scientists believe the injured nervous system may and can be capable of recovery when the muscles are moved in patterns that mimic normal body movements.
Studies have shown that repeating a specific series of movements (in this case, stepping) may trigger the sensory "memory" that reminds the spinal cord how to initiate stepping - in effect, teaching the legs how to walk again.
Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles and in Germany, Switzerland and Canada, have discovered that the spinal cord appears to act like a small brain and is capable of controlling the movements of walking by itself. In fact, it appears that the spinal cord may even tell the muscles the "correct" way to walk. And, amazingly, when a paralyzed person undergoes locomotor gait training and strengthening, both the brain and spinal cord seem to discover new ways to walk.
During the locomotor gait training session, a paralyzed person is suspended in a harness above the treadmill. The harness helps reduce the weight the legs will have to bear. The trained clinician then starts the treadmill that repeatedly moves the person's legs in a walking pattern. Locomotor gait training is remarkably effective: Many paralyzed people, even those with older injuries, have been able to walk to some degree after training. Although each person experienced a different level of recovery, almost all of those with incomplete injuries showed gains.
Advantages of Hocoma Lokomat Pro based training:
• A driven robotic gait system guides the clients’s legs on a treadmill offering a wide range of training and strengthening possibilities
• Faster progress through longer and more intensive training sessions compared to manual treadmill training
• Physical strain on trainers/clinicans is relieved, single operator mode
• Clients walking activity is easily monitored and assessed
• Improved motivation through visualized performance feedback
• Gait pattern and guidance force are individually adjustable to the clients needs
Locomotor gait training is widely used in Europe, but is not yet readily available in the United States. Nor is it for everyone: Scientists, physicians, therapists and clinicians are still learning the best way to train and which individuals can benefit the most.
With over an estimated $400,000.00 cost including tax and without the hefty annual maintence fee, many facilities cannot afford this type of robotic gait training system. To make matters worse, facilities who use insurance and government reimbursement models to deliver care have limited or no way of getting paid to use this state-of-the-art gait training/strengthening system and therefore do not use it in their practices at all. Many facilities often try and use other inefficient equipment, training techniques and environments to substitute for what the Hocoma Lokomat Pro Gait Training/Strengthening system can achieve for those with neurological deficiencies and disorders.
Who is a candidate?
Clients with the following diseases and neurological disorders can benefit from the Lokomat Pro:
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral Palsy
Clients of Neuroxcel® get the benefit of using this state-of-the-art equipment while continuous research is ongoing to enhance its benefits