Nottwil, February 10, 2020
During a festive ceremony, the 1,000th “Lokomat” robotic gait training device was unveiled in the Robotics Department of the Swiss Paraplegic Center in Nottwil. Developed by Hocoma AG in Volketswil, Switzerland, the Lokomat is the leading robotic gait training device in the world.
The Lokomat helps patients recover motor skills after losing some or all ability to walk due to conditions such as a stroke, a head injury, a spinal cord injury (paraplegia), multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease. It even allows patients with severe neurological disorders to benefit from intensive gait training. The effectiveness of the Lokomat has been proven in more than 400 studies.
Lokomat images and videos: https://www.hocoma.com/media-center/media-images/lokomat/
Optimal results via repetition
In order to achieve optimal results for patients, gait training must be “high-intensity,” or in other words, re-peated continually over long periods of time. For therapists, this is nearly impossible without the help of a robotic device. By performing the most arduous tasks, the Lokomat allows therapists to focus on their core competencies. With the Lokomat, therapists can increase both the number and intensity of treatments. During Lokomat therapy, patients control their activity by way of a virtual reality monitor and receive feed-back on their performance in real time. These interactive methods have been shown to increase patient mo-tivation and improve the effectiveness of the training.
Growing demand
One in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. In Switzerland alone, nearly 16,000 strokes and 3,000 to 5,000 head injuries are reported every year. With the number of affected patients continually on the rise worldwide, modern technology is playing an increasingly important role in the rehabilitation process.
Successful Swiss innovation and partnership
The high-tech robotic gait training device was developed at the Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich in partnership with Hocoma AG from Volketswil. Dr. Gery Colombo, co-founder of Hocoma AG, was proud to be on hand to personally unveil the 1,000th Lokomat at the SPC in Nottwil: “We’re thrilled that our training solutions will help contribute to the outstanding work performed every day at the Swiss Paraplegic Center. In order for advances to be made in rehabilitation technology, it is vital that companies work closely with innovative rehabilitation clinics.”
Diana Sigrist-Nix, Head of Rehabilitation at the Swiss Paraplegic Center, also favors such partnerships. She is especially excited for the patients who can benefit from new training methods: “Thanks to the Lokomat, our therapists can work with patients more intensively and thus achieve the best possible results. Together, we are able to offer renewed hope and a better quality of life to those who have suffered a major setback. And that makes our work worthwhile.”
Contact
Michelle Tischer, Brand Manager, Hocoma AG
078 408 92 80
media@hocoma.com
Hocoma AG
20 years ago, Hocoma introduced the Lokomat and became the pioneer in the field of robotic rehabilitation. Since then, Hocoma has evolved into the global leader in the development, production, and distribution of robotic and sensor-based devices used for functional exercise therapy. Hocoma works closely with leading clinics and research centers to continually develop and optimize innovative therapeutic solutions designed for long-term success. The company is based in the Swiss town of Volketswil near Zurich and has branches in Singapore, Slovenia, Chile, and the USA. Hocoma is a proud partner of DIH International and Motek.
www.hocoma.com
Swiss Paraplegic Center
The Swiss Paraplegic Center (SPC) in Nottwil (Canton of Lucerne) is a private, nationally recognized clinic specializing in the acute care, rehabilitation, and reintegration of people with spinal cord injuries. The SPC is equipped with 190 beds as well as an intensive care unit. Founded in 1990 by Dr. Guido A. Zäch, the SPC now has more than 1,200 employees. The specialty clinic belongs to the Swiss Paraplegic Group, a comprehensive network of rehabilitation facilities for people with spinal cord injuries. This network is funded by the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.
www.paraplegie.ch/spz