What is the Lokomat system?
Lokomat is a robotic system that enables a variety of patients with mobility problems due to spinal cord injuries, head injuries, strokes, multiple sclerosis, and difficulties in movement that developed for other reasons, to exercise mobility, especially walking. The system makes it possible for patients to practice walking for a long time and distance, sometimes even early in the rehabilitation process.
The system includes a conveyor belt for walking, a harness designed to support the patient and reduce body weight, and a robotic arm system that supports the lower extremities during walking.
Exercising with Lokomat is likely to improve the quality of walking in patients who can move their legs.
Using passive movement, the Lokomat can prevent immobility-related complications in patients who are completely paralyzed. And the system can provide a sense of ability and confidence to patients with limited mobility.
The new Lokomat system, Lokomat®Pro, which we plan to make available to our patients, has the following advantages:
Additional robotic arm for pelvic movement
Unlike the Lokomat model available to our patients today, which keeps the patient’s pelvis completely immobilized, the new system has an additional arm that enables the movement of the pelvis along three planes: to the sides, up and down, and rotational. In this way, the system makes it possible to shift weight from one foot to another with each step, enabling a walking pattern that better simulates natural walking.
Advanced biofeedback
The new system includes computer games that appear on a screen in front of the patient walking on the conveyor belt. Depending on the patient’s state, the therapist determines the values of measures that reflect the activity of the system, such as the walking speed, the amount of weight carried, and the degree of force applied to the various joints. Proper matching of these values to the patient improves achievement and success in the games. In this way, the games stimulate the patients’ interest, increase their motivation to take part in the treatment and persevere in it, and also help practice walking for a long time and distance.
“Smart” matching
Natural walking speed is not constant. The Lokomat®Pro system can adjust the speed of the conveyor to the patient’s abilities and pace. This characteristic of the new system reduces the need for changes in system parameters by the therapist, at the same time creating a more natural movement for the patient.
Robotic arm for children
In the new system there is also an option to install a smaller arm, which is suitable for children. This arm will help expand the range of patients who can benefit from Lokomat treatment at the hospital.
