Sheltering Arms Institute Collaborates With MedTech Startup To Develop Groundbreaking Upper-Extremity Therapy Technology

     

RICHMOND, Va. (August 5, 2025) – New advanced rehabilitation technology available at Sheltering Arms Institute, a nationally ranked local physical rehabilitation provider, is helping individuals with hand and arm impairments due to stroke or other neurological illness or injury regain maximum mobility.

Bioliberty’s Lifehub Clinic is a portable, modular system that helps therapists provide high intensity, interactive therapy in a clinical setting. Currently focused on upper-extremity therapy, the Lifehub Clinic system combines three integrated components: Lifeglov, a soft-robotic glove that assists hand movement; Lifehub, an interactive therapy interface used during sessions; and Lifemind, software that tracks session frequency, duration, and patient progress.

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland and Boston, Massachusetts, Bioliberty’s mission is to create medical equipment that gives people the best chance of recovery after a mobility-limiting condition or injury. From its inception more than four years ago, the company’s engineers recognized the importance of clinical insight. They began collaborating with therapists at Sheltering Arms Institute who engaged with early Lifehub Clinic prototypes and provided essential feedback on both the glove’s functionality and its integrated software. That collaboration played a critical role in shaping the final version of the technology, which has officially launched in inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation settings.

“In developing Lifehub Clinic, we collaborated closely with leading physical rehabilitation centers to identify solutions to real-world challenges faced by real stroke patients,” said Rowan Armstrong, co-founder and chief executive officer at Bioliberty. “As a result, we’ve developed a clinically robust solution that is intuitive and engaging for users, while addressing the underlying challenges these patients face.”

Early and intensive therapy after stroke has been proven to help people achieve better recoveries, and Lifehub Clinic helps deliver therapy quickly and at a high dose to promote neuroplasticity and restore function. Powered by air, Lifeglov slowly extends the users’ fingers and opens their hand. This action replicates the physical manipulation a therapist would provide, allowing the user to practice tasks repetitively through game-like exercises displayed on Lifehub. Early outcomes are promising, showing reduced hand spasticity, improved quality of life, increased functional movement, and greater engagement in therapy.

“Lifehub Clinic has been a breakthrough for our patients, helping us effectively care for individuals with severe tightness or limited hand mobility,” said Amber Walter, PT, DPT, NCS, director of clinical science at Sheltering Arms Institute. “The brain is wired for heightened sensitivity in the hands, making comfort a critical requirement for any assistive device. This product’s comfort, ease-of-use, and varying levels of difficulty ensure it can effectively treat patients as they progress through recovery.”

As one of the earliest applications of soft robotics in a clinical setting, Bioliberty’s solution is paving the way for participation in cutting-edge rehabilitation research and leveraging AI to enable more individualized treatment. Sheltering Arms Institute occupational therapists are continuing to track patient outcomes to establish guidelines around when and for whom the device is most effective. The team is also exploring how to utilize the Lifeglov beyond treating tightness and spasticity by pairing it with other advanced rehabilitation technology.

Sheltering Arms Institute currently offers the Lifehub Clinic technology at its main campus in Short Pump and Hanover outpatient center with plans to expand the technology to its other locations in the future. If you or someone you know are interested in utilizing this transformative technology, ask your doctor for a referral or contact us to schedule an evaluation.

 

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About Sheltering Arms Institute

Sheltering Arms Institute is a non-profit and donor-supported state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health through a joint venture. Ranked best in Virginia and among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit ShelteringArmsInstitute.com.

 

About Bioliberty

Bioliberty is a startup based in Edinburgh and Boston, on a mission to give everyone the best chance at recovery from a mobility-limiting condition or injury, empowering individuals to reclaim their independence. Founded in 2020, the company has raised $7 million from a mix of public and private investors to fuel product development and commercialization. Bioliberty holds seven patents across its core technologies, Lifehub and Lifeglov — both of which are FDA-registered. While the initial focus is on upper-limb recovery, Bioliberty is actively expanding the platform to support broader therapeutic needs across the body and into the home. For more information, visit www.bioliberty.com, contact info@bioliberty.com, or follow us on LinkedIn.