Armeo®Spring - Features & Functions
The ArmeoSpring is based on an ergonomic arm exoskeleton with integrated springs for Arm Weight Support. It embraces the whole arm and offers the following degrees of freedom:
- Wrist flexion / extension
- Forearm pro / supination
- Elbow flexion / extension
- Shoulder flexion / extension, horizontal abduction / adduction,
internal / external rotation
The grip sensor allows combined training of hand and arm function and can be used not only as an input device for exercises, but also as a computer mouse interface for standard software or computer games.
The Armeo facilitates the patient’s own active movements which are directed through specific tasks on a computer screen and allow engaging self-training with immediate performance feedback.
Augmented Performance Feedback
Armeocontrol for ArmeoSpring contains an extensive library of game-like movement exercises supported by a virtual-reality training environment that is both motivating and informative, clearly displaying the functional task along with immediate performance feedback. The motivating and self-initiated exercises include proximal and distal components, specifically related to:
- Grasp and release
- Pro / supination
- Wrist flexion / extension
- Reach and retrieval function
The equipment detects even trace amounts of movement and function and facilitates intensive reach and grasp exercises at an early stage of therapy.
Developed with leading rehabilitation clinics and research centers to promote upper extremity rehabilitation.
Scientific results
Clinical evaluation of therapy utilizing ArmeoSpring was conducted at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The study compared Armeo therapy to conventional, self-directed therapy in 28 moderately to severely impaired chronic stroke patients and the following findings were reported (Housman et al., 2009):
- Better long term outcomes
- Significantly better outcome in motor ability (FuglMeyer) at 6 months follow up
- Increased motivation
- Patients were clearly in favour of Armeo therapy compared to conventional, self-directed therapy.
The system was described as "more beneficial" and “less boring” than conventional table-top therapy.
Clinical benefits
- Reveals any remaining motor function
- Even moderately to severely impaired patients can practice independently and benefit from highly intensive, repetitive, self-initiated movement therapy
- The workspace is adjustable to the patients’ capabilities
- Patients with only trace motor function can integrate their remaining function into the intensive, engaging, functional exercises
- Optimum integration of arm, hand and wrist brings the whole movement chain into the therapy
- As a universal platform, the ArmeoSpring provides an interface to hand modules for patients with lower or higher functionality
Comparison of the three Armeo products
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view.)
- Photo: Stroke Patient, Therapiezentrum am Goethering Osnabrück, Germany
