Robotic walking system (walking robot); is a new technological system used to regain walking ability to patients who have partially or completely lost this ability and consists of two main parts. In the first part, the patient is on a treadmill. He is suspended in an upright position in an area surrounded by the robot, thus reducing his body weight. First, it is determined at what rate the patient's body weight will be lost and supported. The study starts after evaluating the patient's contribution and the device's contribution. In the second part, high-quality computer-controlled robotic motors are used in the Robotic Walking system. These sensored robot parts of the device are mounted on the patient's legs with retaining bands, taking the hip and knee joints as reference. While these sensors move the legs in a way that creates a natural walking pattern, on the other hand, the receivers evaluate and measure the body's response to the movement, and thus the graphic data obtained from the device's computer informs the doctor at which stages of walking and to what extent the patient has problems. The robot is adjusted to suit each patient's individual functional level and supports the patient as much as necessary but as little as possible. While the patient moves in a certain and desired pattern, the robot does not intervene, and when the patient goes out of the desired pattern, the robot creates a corrective force and activates the "as much help as necessary" principle. Thus, movements that are repeated many times to form a physiological walking pattern provide the greatest assistance to the patient in walking again.
The best method to restore walking function is to get the patient up and walking as early as possible. In paralyzed patients, the affected body part responds to the movements in the normal walking pattern even if there is no muscle power to create the movement. With this method, especially in patients with spinal cord paralysis, treatment allows reflexes to be transmitted from the legs to the spinal cord. Studies have shown that the repetition of special movement series triggers sensory memory and reminds the spinal cord how to start walking. In these cases, the spinal cord itself acts like a small brain and has the capacity to create control in walking movements. In a sense, the spinal cord tells the muscles the correct way to walk.
The repeated walking pattern helps the brain and spinal cord work together to recreate signals that have been interrupted due to disease or injury in new ways, while the stimuli that go to the brain in normal walking are sent in a similar way in robotic walking, and thus the movement center in the brain is stimulated in the most appropriate way for physiological patterns. Thus, the reflex walking pattern, together with the sensory and visual perception coming from the legs, is taught not to the cell groups that should be in the brain, but to other brain cell tissues that can undertake its duties. This situation is a result of the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt (Plasticity). Thanks to the Robotic Walking System, side branches and new connections that will provide communication between the periventricular area and our brain are used, and existing connections are tried to be adapted to the new neuronal pathways that develop. Therefore, when the paralyzed patient receives this walking and strengthening treatment, both the brain and the spinal cord discover new neurological pathways for walking.
The most important contribution of robotic rehabilitation (Walking Robot) to the treatment is that it can make movements similar to normal activities in daily life intensively and thus constantly stimulate the responsible centers in the brain and spinal cord.
It helps to increase the strength of the trunk and leg muscles in paralyzed patients.
It helps to protect the skeletal system and bone integrity by actively loading the patient's bones. happens.
It increases the perception of standing upright (verticalization) in patients who are constantly lying down and increases the patient's self-confidence.
It increases the patient's self-confidence and provides feedback (Biofeedback) regarding the patient's response to treatment.
It provides objective information about the patient's compliance with treatment and development thanks to computer support.
It increases intestinal motility due to its contribution to active walking.
Increases patient participation and motivation in treatment through computer-aided enhanced visual performance feedback
Robotic Walking therapy is primarily used in patients with spinal cord injuries that are not completely transected, in other words, in patients who still have some function left in their arms and legs. Robotic Walking treatment does not provide functional recovery in total spinal cord paralysis, which is called complete cut, but it also provides improvement in secondary side effects such as stimulating metabolism, regulating circulation, reducing spasticity, and regulating bladder and bowel functions in the long term.
In addition to exercising the brain and spinal cord, this treatment method helps strengthen the bones against the risk of osteoporosis that may develop due to inactivity due to the weight-bearing properties of the exercises, in addition to its effects on strengthening the muscles and regulating circulation.
The main purpose of treatment is to improve or regain walking ability. For this reason, it is most often recommended for patients who have lost these abilities due to brain injury, stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy in children, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, various orthopedic diseases and hip prosthesis application. The patient should have some sensation or motor function/movement in at least one main muscle group in their legs. Treatments applied even years after the injury are beneficial. As with other physical exercise programs, patients should be fully evaluated by their doctor before the program. Patients may not be candidates for this treatment under certain special conditions. These are; cardiopulmonary diseases, those with high blood pressure or those whose blood pressure varies greatly with standing up or walking, those with fainting spells, those with uncontrolled diabetes, those with pressure sores that do not heal, those with very advanced osteoporosis, and those with excessive swelling or contractures in the legs.
If robotic rehabilitation (Walking Robot) is applied in combination with other physical therapy and rehabilitation applications, better results are obtained.
Algomed Hospital has approximately 8 For years we have been using robotic rehabilitation application (walking robot) on paralyzed patients and other neurological disorders in our physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic. We get much better results compared to classical physical therapy and rehabilitation applications. We use robotic rehabilitation, a wonder of technology, widely and successfully in order to help patients stand up earlier, become independent in their daily activities earlier and reintegrate them into society.
For our patients coming from Turkey and abroad; We also provide inpatient services to our patients for 30-60 days in our hospital by combining robotic treatment with other physical therapy and rehabilitation methods.
