[June 12, 2014] |
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Hocoma Lokomat Therapy Kicks off Soccer World Cup 2014
NORWELL, Mass. --(Business Wire)--
On Thursday June 12, 2014 a completely paralyzed SCI patient will enter
the field of the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paolo in a wheelchair, stand
up, walk a few meters and perform the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup 2014
in the opening match Brazil vs. Croatia. Enabled by the therapy with the
Lokomat, the patient will steer a full-body robotic exoskeleton with his
mind. All of the eight patients chosen for the task could walk at some
point in their lives but suffered an injury resulting in paralysis. In
order to be able to steer the robotic exoskeleton, the patients are
training intensively with the LokomatPro. The LokomatPro supports the
reorganization of the brain, enabling paralyzed patients to recover lost
motor functions.
The exoskeleton has been developed by the Walk Again Project, a
nonprofit, international collaboration led by Miguel Nicolelis. The
patient is wearing a non-invasive headpiece that detects brain waves.
With messages provided by the brain, such as moving or stopping, the
patient is able to control the exoskeleton that generates movements.
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The highly repetitive gait training provided by the LokomatPro ensures
the optimum utilization of neuroplasticity and recovery potential. It
supports the reorganization of the brain and relearning of lost motor
functions. According to Miguel Nicolelis, the LokomatPro and its
motivating virtual environment is their most important tool in gait
training with patients.
The LokomatPro is now available with the new module FreeD and the
Challenge package. The FreeD module improves the therapy by allowing for
lateral translation and transverse rotation of the pelvis. While
training, patients can shift their weight completely over their stance
leg and thereby activate their core muscles and experience balance
aspects. With the new Challenge Package, the LokomatPro offers highly
attractive exercises that boost the patient's motivation and effort by
providing competitive elements and intuitive scoring. The Challenge
Package allows to focus on specific therapy aspects such as activity
timing and coordination, movement pattern and gait symmetry.
Hocoma
Hocoma was set up in 2000, as a spin-off of the Swiss University
Hospital Balgrist. The company currently employs more than 150 people at
its headquarters near Zurich, Switzerland and at its subsidiaries in the
US, Singapore and Slovenia. Hocoma develops and produces therapy
solutions for neurological patients with movement disorders caused by
stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis,
cerebral palsy or other neurological diseases and injuries as well as
for low back pain patients. The product range features devices for
intensive locomotion therapy (Lokomat®), functional therapy
of the upper extremities (Armeo®), early rehabilitation and
patient mobilization (Erigo®) as well as functional movement
therapy within low back pain treatment (Valedo®). Hocoma's
products are applied successfully in clinics and research institutes
worldwide. Dr. Gery Colombo is the CEO of Hocoma AG located in
Switzerland.
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