“Being able to stand, take steps and be at eye level with people was amazing. It was exciting and emotional.”
For patients who have lived with the effects of immobility for years – such as this patient, who has been a paraplegic for 18 years – the introduction of an exoskeleton to their lives can have truly life-changing consequences.
“We’ve had clients who, through using the exoskeleton, can walk their children to school for the first time,” says Matt White, a specialist in neurorehabilitation and technology, and exoskeleton lead at PhysioFunction.
“It’s a special moment, and psychologically it can be huge.
“It’s not a magic wand, but the impact of being able to move around on their feet, at eye level, can be very important in someone’s outlook and ongoing rehabilitation.”
And with the use of exoskeletons rising globally, including their adoption by many specialist physio practices in the UK, this opportunity is being embraced by many more people who have lost the ability to walk unaided.
From those with paraplegia, through to people who have experienced movement problems through brain injury or stroke, the use of an exoskeleton can benefit them greatly.
The ReWalk is one of the most widely used models, and can be worn at home and out in the community, rather than being confined solely to the physiotherapy clinic.
Mimicking the natural gait pattern of the legs, it allows users to walk independently, enabling people with spinal cord injury to stand upright, walk, turn and even climb and descend stairs.
At PhysioFunction, the neurophysiotherapy business where Matt is based, they also offer the REX and FREEWalk exoskeletons, and are believed to be the only practice in the country to have three different models.
“The exoskeletons can each support patients through a range of recovery needs and goals,” he says.
“The REX works well for many people, and can support those who have no arm function and enable them to develop improved standing tolerance, whereas the FREEWalk lends itself to retraining walking and balance.
“It helps to educate people in strengthening their bodies, who have been really unstable previously, they can now stabilise and move more safely.
“So while they can help people achieve goals in the short term, such as going on the walk to school or walking round a shop, longer-term it is helping to support a person’s recovery, as part of a more holistic physiotherapy programme.”
While increasing numbers of people are gaining access to exoskeletons, the ongoing restriction to them being more widely available remains the price point.
“It is a huge investment to make and the expense is undeniably a barrier,” says Matt.
“I’m not sure I can see them coming down in price hugely, the cost is always going to be high, but the fact that there are a few physiotherapy practices dotted around nationally which now have an exoskeleton is helping to increase access.
“While the sessions are more expensive than usual physio sessions due to the cost of the equipment involved, the use of an exoskeleton can have many benefits for clients.
“At PhysioFunction, we have three, and this has been a very significant investment for us to make, but the positive impact they are having on our clients, their lives and their rehabilitation is clear.”