Since the turn of the century, treadmill therapy has established itself as a successful therapeutic measure for improving or regaining the ability to walk in patients who have suffered a stroke and in patients with spinal cord and brain injuries. LokoHelp is an electromechanical gait trainer that provides enhanced assistance for performing walking movements when combined with the treadmill.
Innovative Gait Trainer
- LokoHelp is considered an important and effective aid in the therapy of patients with impaired or lost walking ability. Stroke patients, those with Parkinson’s disease, or generally individuals with severe neurological disorders such as spinal cord injuries greatly benefit from the treatment. Numerous studies have shown that LokoHelp outperforms conventional walking training.
- By relieving body weight during treadmill training, repetitions of loading on the stance and swing legs are increased. If the situation allows, the patient should attempt to actively participate as well.
- Thanks to a mirror mounted on the wall, the patient has the opportunity to visually imagine the movement. This makes the training much more effective, leading to focused and precise movement therapy. Patients who are no longer able to walk independently also benefit greatly from our therapy, which focuses on individually tailored training methods such as weight shift, knee extension, or hip mobilization.
- Several studies demonstrate that LokoHelp is superior to conventional walking training.
Features
LokoHelp is an electromechanical gait trainer. Mechanical support is provided to the feet during stance and swing phases. The patient may need to actively participate in the exercises, especially controlling knee and hip extension. During LokoHelp therapy, the patient’s feet are placed in special overshoes, and the patient’s body weight is additionally relieved by a harness system. The maximum speed of the device is 2 km/h.
The patient is never left alone during the exercises but is accompanied and supported by a trained therapist throughout. One leg is mechanically flexed and directed forward with the help of this device, while simultaneously the stance leg is extended and stabilized. Thanks to a mirror mounted on the wall, the patient has the opportunity to visually imagine the movement. Experience shows that numerous patients have improved or regained their walking ability thanks to the LokoHelp device. The quality of the walking pattern also improves.
Objectives
Studies show that treadmill therapy with body weight support is superior to conventional walking practice because the number of repetitions of loading on the stance and swing legs during treadmill training is usually greater, resulting in a significant improvement in walking ability over the long term.
LokoHelp is particularly beneficial for patients who are unable to take steps independently, even with aids. The therapy focuses on weight shift, knee extension, and hip mobilization, helping patients improve their mobility and independence.
In addition to movements of the stance and swing legs, the ability to maintain posture and postural control is necessary for independent walking on the ground. During LokoHelp training, the patient’s trunk and pelvis are not strongly fixed. Therefore, additional postural demands can be introduced and practiced during this time.
This therapy is also suitable for cognitively impaired patients. Activation of walking can often lead to improved vigilance and alertness, and improvement in perception and deep and superficial sensation can be achieved partially through gait pattern activation. Furthermore, trunk, arm, and shoulder muscles are activated.
LokoHelp is suitable for patients with:
- Spinal cord injury
- After a stroke
- After a traumatic brain injury
- With cerebral palsy
- With Parkinson’s disease
- With multiple sclerosis
- With Guillain-Barré syndrome
- After hip and knee joint replacement
- With geriatric and orthopedic conditions
