The Hocoma Lokomat is a robotic gait rehabilitation system that is performed on top of a treadmill.
This device has two parts. The first part is a harness, which is used for safety and body weight support. The second part is a gait orthosis, or walking robot, which is controlled by a computer and operates electronically, thereby assisting with the mechanics of walking.
The individual is secured in a harness system above a treadmill while their legs are placed in a robotic device that aligns with the hip and knee joints. The device moves the individual’s legs through a pre-programmed physiological gait pattern that simulates the natural posture and balance needed for walking. Assistance from the robot and the body weight support system can be adjusted by a physical therapist as treatment progresses.
In the event that the gait orthosis, or walking robot, is not needed, the Lokomat can also be used for manual bodyweight support treadmill training. In both cases, the Lokomat is designed to target high repetition and high intensity when walking in order to promote a better recovery.
This device is designed especially for survivors of stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury, but it can also be used for walking disabilities related to cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. In general, it can be particularly useful for individuals who have difficulty initiating steps when re-learning how to walk.
Sheltering Arms Institute houses the Hocoma Lokomat technology at its main campus in Short Pump as well as our Hanover outpatient center.
