Lokomat Nanos System: The Latest In Malaysia

Physical disabilities and functional limitations have profound implications on public health with increased utilisation of health care and a need for supportive devices and long term care (Fried & Guralnik, 1997). Furthermore, adverse consequences such as dependency and institutionalisation are major repercussions of physical disabilities (Jack & Luigi, 2003). The achievement of independent performance of the activities of daily living, specifically the ability to walk would prevent the negative consequences of functional limitations.

          The latest technology in Malaysia, the Lokomat Nanos System is a robotic gait (walking) orthosis assisting patients who have impairments in walking due to neurological (stroke, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis) or musculoskeletal disorders. This modern and hi-tech approach towards physiotherapy management has established itself with great effectiveness for improving over-ground walking function in patients.

          Currently in Malaysia, patients are only able to be manually assisted by the physiotherapist on the treadmill however it is performed with great difficulty due to reduced body weight support by the patient and the high physical demands on the physiotherapist. The Lokomat would provide adequate support for severely impaired stroke patients to train longer with more repetitions thereby keeping training at a challenging level.

            The Lokomat System comprises of:

·         A robotic gait orthosis - this system works by guiding the patients’ legs on the treadmill according to programmed physiological walking pattern and task-oriented. The computer allows individual adjustments in the parameters of walking.

·         The Augmented Feedback – provides motivating, challenging and instructive functional feedback in real-time virtual environments.

·         A body weight support system – facilitates patient handling and optimizes physiologic gait training. The body weight support is adjustable and automated.

·         A treadmill - patient obtains sensory information through stepping on the treadmill, which is an important contributor to motor relearning.

            In a systematic review by Mehrholz et al. (2007), it was shown in 414 stroke patients that electromechanical-assisted gait training combined with physiotherapy improves recovery of independent walking as well as increases the distance of walking. For patients with spinal cord injury, Lokomat training resulted in significant improvements in patients’ gait velocity, endurance, performance of functional tasks as well as modifies abnormal reflex function (Hornby et al, 2005; Wirz et al., 2005 & Mirbagheri et al., 2005). Therefore generally after having sessions with the Lokomat, patients would improve their balance, coordination, postural or distal control leading to a more physiological gait pattern and better walking ability.

            The Lokomat Nanos System have arrived in iRehab for a more effective provision of physiotherapy treatments to patients. Lokomat Nanos System, another step towards our motto “Making Movement Possible”