THERAPEUTIC ROBOT ASSISTS IN PHYSICAL REHAB

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For those with brain injuries or physical disabilities, rehabilitation training is crucial to help them walk on their own. The medical training usually requires three or four physical therapists.
Now, a therapeutic robot is expected to make the process more effective and productive. Here is more.

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Young-jin cannot walk on his own due to congenital spinal lesion. The high schooler is now hopeful that he may finally be able to walk independently after 17 long years. His optimism is fuelled by a rehabilitation training robot.

[Soundbite] HWANG YOUNG-JIN(YONGIN, GYEONGGI-DO PROV.) : “It's amazing. I like that I can put my feet forward and walk straight.”

The robot can freely adjust the pace and stride of steps based on the user's body type and degree of disability. The device can protect joints in ankles as well as hips and knees, and proven to be effective in rehab training. With the assistance of three physical therapists, a patient can walk 100 steps in 30 minutes. With a robotic trainer, that number increases by ten-fold to 1,000 steps. A patient with a spinal cord injury was able to cut the time needed for walking ten meters by three fourths through 36 rounds of training with the robot.

[Soundbite] YOO SEUNG-HYUN(PROF., YONSEI UNIVERSITY) : “Accurate walking helps make various improvements, such as greater sensory stimulation and positive changes to muscular and joint movement.”

According to overseas clinical trials, the robotic treatment increases the chances of enabling patients to walk on their own 2.4 times. At 29 different facilities across the nation, this robotic therapist is giving hope to those with limited mobility or disabilities.