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More Technology The LokomatPro FreeD is the cen- terpiece of a concerted effort by Via Christi to become a regional hub for rehabilitation by offering an arsenal of advanced options for therapists to use to help their patients. Other recent additions include: + The ArmeoSpring, an exoskeleton system that wraps around a patient's arm to negate the effects of body weight and gravity. It uses spring controls to magnify even trace move- ments for patients with little muscle control to continue their motions for neuromuscular re-education. The system includes a visual feed- back system that allows patients to complete tasks such as picking an apple from a bin at the grocery store or breaking an egg into a bowl. "Even if they don't have much move- ment," Trebilcock says, "it expands on what they have." + The RT300 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike creates patterned movement in arms, legs and trunk. This enables patients to use existing muscle control in their upper and lower extremities, com- bined with electrical stimulation to facilitate increased muscle activity for movement. The FES bike can help improve circulation, reduce muscular atro- phy and help with neuromuscular re-education. + The Bioness H200, a FES unit, is used in performing therapy and task-specific movements to improve impaired hand function resulting from stroke, trau- matic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Therapists are able to customize the unit for a specific patient, to help him or her reach, grab and release objects. Over time, muscles relearn the processes involved, allowing for improved ability to perform activities of daily living. The ArmeoSpring and Bioness H200 often are used in conjunction in patients' therapy plans. + Via Christi also has the Bioness L300 Plus, which uses FES and is the latest in Bioness products for the lower extremi- ties. The L300 Plus helps patients control tibialis anterior, quadriceps and hamstring muscles for knee and foot control during gait. The goal is to eliminate foot slap at heel strike and drag at toe-off, as well as to control the knee, preventing hyperextension at stance phase of the gait sequence. The L300 Plus is programmed by the therapist uniquely for each client's everyday needs. It also can be set for a variety of surfaces, continuing to help patients after they leave therapy. + The Sanet Vision Integrator (SVI) uses a 50-inch touchscreen monitor, designed to improve visual motor and perceptual skills. The SVI can be used in treatment of many visual abilities, including eye-hand before the Lokomat. Now, the machine might help t he sa me patient wa lk 800 meters with a smoother gait. The Lokomat, through its exoskeleton design, has potentiometers that measure the amount of force or movement the patient is able to perform. A biofeed- back system tracks that performance and projects progress on a screen in a graphical or game format for patients to visualize their efforts. Therapists ca n set up ga mes a nd t herapeutic activities for patients while on the Lokomat to provide motivation for improved performance. The computer stores patient data to track progression across multiple therapy sessions. The Lokomat uses a partial body weight-supported harness system that allows therapists to gradu- ally increase the amount of body weight and work that patients contribute to the walking process. The Lokomat has opened up new potential for other types of therapy i n it s s h or t t i m e a t V i a C h r i s t i Rehabilitation Hospital. "It's having an effect on the patients' ent ire ca re," Reed says. "I've had patients who had no sense of sitting balance, and after using the Lokomat for two sessions they can sit at the edge of a table. It opens up more things the occupational therapists can do with upper extremities, if patients can sit unsupported, and improves patients' abilities during self-care activities. It flows into all areas of a patient's care." The ArmeoSpring exoskeleton system magnifies trace movements for patients with little muscle control to continue their motions for neuromuscular re-education. M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Greater Kansas | 7