WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital is one of just 22 facilities in the United States approved to use the Ekso™ wearable robot (exoskeleton) to help people who have lower-extremity weakness or paralysis stand and/or walk and enjoy the benefits of being vertical.
Ekso Benefits
- Weight bearing – Stimulates bone density and decreases tone and/or spasms
- Upright posture – Facilitates better bowel and bladder emptying
- Vertical position – Facilitates improved cardiopulmonary function
- Controlled movement pattern – Allows the ability to walk in a normal movement pattern
- Neutral posture – Allows the patient to work on balance and postural control in a neutral posture
- Upright posture & lower extremity range of motion: Decreased neuropathic pain
- Standing position: Decreased pressure on ischial tuberosities
- Upright posture & gait pattern: The joy of walking and looking people in the eye!
Who Can Use Ekso?
Ekso users must:
- Be between 5’2” and 6’2”
- Weigh less than 220 lbs.
- Have a hip width less than 16.5”
- Be independent with sitting balance and transfers to chairs with no arms
- Be able to use a walker or crutches to balance
- Be in a standing program or pass a standing frame trial
Joint range-of-motion limitations, pregnancy, colostomy, deep vein thrombosis, osteoporosis, skin breakdowns, certain cognitive impairments, uncontrolled spasticity and other conditions can prevent a person from qualifying for the WakeMed Robotic Walking Program. That is why a thorough phone interview is the first step to determine if a person qualifies for the program.
Getting Started
For information about Ekso and the WakeMed Robotic Walking Program, please contact Janis McLaughlin, manager, WakeMed Outpatient Rehabilitation, at jamclaughlin@wakemed.org or 919-350-5175. To schedule a telephone screening, call WakeMed Outpatient Rehabilitation at the Health Park at 919-350-8347.
