MossRehab’s recent acquisition of the Lokomat — a robotic training assistant consisting of an exoskeleton mounted above a treadmill — will greatly enhance the process of helping patients relearn how to walk.

The Lokomat’s exoskeleton, pictured at right, wraps around a patient’s hips, knees, and lower back. Via a computer, it can be programmed to perform precise walking patterns.  These repetitive patterns may train the brain and spinal cord to develop alternative pathways to support mobility after injury or illness.

Prior to the Lokomat, patients were assisted by two or more physical therapists who moved their legs manually in a walking pattern. However, this labor-intensive process did not allow for the precise repetition of specified movements over an extended period. Compared to therapist-assisted rehabilitation, the Lokomat allows the patient to walk in a consistent manner and speed for a much longer period of time  resulting in a significantly  larger number of movement repetitions.  

The Lokomat also gives patients the opportunity to engage in weight-bearing exercise, which helps strengthen muscles and reduce the risk of osteoporosis due to immobility. To derive the maximum benefit from the Lokomat device, a patient  must experience sensation or have movement in at least one major muscle group in the leg.

“The Lokomat was developed primarily for treating patients with spinal cord injury,” says Alberto Esquenazi, MD, director of the Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory and Regional Amputee Center. “There are less than 100 centers using this technology in the world, and we’re the first in our region. We’ll be investigating a newer use of this technology to assist patients after stroke or traumatic brain injury.”

After stroke or traumatic brain injury, patients may have difficulty with symmetrical motion, being weaker on one side. Because the Lokomat can be programmed so precisely, patients can be encouraged to walk in a symmetrical fashion, with assistance or resistance applied as needed to strengthen weakened muscles. The team at MossRehab has developed and will submit a research proposal to determine the effect of Lokomat therapy in patients with TBI.

MossRehab at Leading Edge in Research and Therapy

According to Dr. Esquenazi, the significant investment in the purchase of the Lokomat, and the days spent training staff, are reflections of MossRehab’s commitment to development and implementation of new tools for rehabilitation, which has earned the facility the distinction of being selected as one of U.S.News &World Report’s Best Hospitals. “Ultimately, we want to offer patients the broadest range of cutting-edge therapies to enhance their independence and quality of life after stroke or traumatic brain injury,” he says.

MossRehab has extensive experience researching neurologic conditions and traumatic brain injury, treats the largest number of stroke patients and is the largest recipient of research grants in the area of traumatic brain injury in the mid-Atlantic region. Moss has the advantage of being the only facility in the area that combines an acute care hospital with a comprehensive rehabilitation facility.

For more information on the Lokomat, MossRehab’s services for stroke, neurologic injury or traumatic brain injury, or to refer a patient, call 215-663-MOSS (215-663-6677). Patients with high or low blood pressure, diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease, seizures, or severe osteoporosis are not appropriate candidates for Lokomat therapy.