Paediatric Lokomat

A few weeks ago while viewing a video (on stem cells), posted by a mother whose daughter has CP, I was intrigued by a machine that a boy was using. The machine appeared for only 1-2 seconds and I had no idea what it was called.

I was disappointed then that I couldnt find it on the net. It seemed very interesting and something that might help my son in improving his gait (specifically the heel toe movement). But a few weeks later, I chanced upon it on the net while looking for something else. The internet and YouTube can be such great resources!

Here's a video of it:



There are more videos on Lokomat on YouTube. If you're interested, just key in "Lokomat" in the search tool in YouTube.

Here are some bits of info from other websites on the Lokomat machine.

The Lokomat is a robotic gait orthosis with electromechanical drives that supports walking on a treadmill with body weight support. Because the movements are performed according to a predefined trajectory, there is no visible cue to the amount the patient is contributing. However, the forces measured within the drives can deliver an estimation of this contribution. Based on these measurements, biofeedback on the patient's gait performance was added as a new feature. The visual display will allow the patient to get direct feedback on his/her efforts, and will allow the therapist to instruct the patient better.

A recent article from Reuters touts a Swiss rehab system, with robot-assisted lower extremities controls. Research, reported by the German team in the February issue of Stroke, found that the system by Hocoma AG was beneficial to patients status post stroke by making their leg muscles stronger, and by letting them gain more muscle mass than a control group.


The company has two devices, called Lokomat, for adults and peds. Here's how the company explains the basics of its system:

The basic version of the Lokomat System consists of the Lokomat (robotic gait orthosis) and the Lokobasis (body weight support system). It is used in combination with a Woodway treadmill. The orthosis is position controlled. The patient's legs are guided according to a pre-programmed physiological gait pattern. The computer controlled guidance allows individual adjustments of different gait parameters.

The Lokomat System utilizes high quality computer controlled motors (drives) which are integrated in the gait orthosis at each hip and knee joint. Force transducers at the joints accurately measure the interaction between the patient and the Lokomat. The drives are precisely synchronized with the speed of the treadmill. This sensitive system assures a precise match between the speed of the gait orthosis and the treadmill.

The extract in green text above was copied from the following website. You can click on the link below for more info: http://medgadget.com/archives/2007/02/automated_tread.html

I talked to the person in charge in the company that distributes the Lokomat in Malaysia. He says that the first ever unit of the Paediatric Lokomat in Malaysia will be available at a rehab centre in Puchong, after Chinese New Year. I dont know how much they'll charge for a therapy session on it. Likely to be expensive tho, cos it's a very expensive machine.

He said the next unit will be in Cheras (HUKM?) around middle of this year. I'm hoping it's HUKM so that the therapy charges on it will be cheaper. I'm jumping the gun cos I dont even know if it's suitable for my son! But it may be useful for some of the readers of this blog.
If you're interested, here's the contact details (I got it off the net):
Mr. Shamsurillah Bin Shafei
Omega Sientific (M) Sdn. Bhd
Suite E6-2, 2nd Floor, Jalan Selaman ½
Dataran Palma
68000 Ampang
Selangor Danul Ehsan
Tel. +03-42701372
Fax +03-42701375
sham(at)omegascientific.com.sg
http://www.omegascientific.com.sg/