Gait training aims to help people relearn or improve walking ability following a brain or spinal injury.
These injuries often disrupt the communication pathways between the brain, spinal cord and muscles, leading to difficulties in walking, balance and coordination.
Gait training focuses on restoring these functions through targeted exercises, therapies and advanced technologies.
The Hybrid Robotic Gait Training System is one such technology.
Developed by rehab robotics company HIWIN, the system has been shown to improve clinical functional outcomes for stroke patients.
NR Times speaks to HIWIN R&D manager Allan Chen to learn more about the technology and how it’s helping stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors get back on their feet.
Hi Allan. Please tell us about HIWIN and the inspiration behind the Robotic Gait Training System
HIWIN’s vision is to enhance the quality of human life by advancing technology.
In response to a local hospital’s request for a robotic gait training solution, we developed a neurorehabilitation robot that assists physical therapists in delivering precise, continuous movements.
The robot complements traditional therapy by enabling high-dose, standardised movements and facilitating early intervention.
Using robotics to support physical therapists offers numerous advantages, such as providing tailored walking training for patients who lack muscle strength and trunk control.
It also reduces the physical demands on therapists while ensuring consistent treatment quality.
How did you develop the technology?
Patients require varying levels of support at different stages of their rehabilitation.
Meeting this challenge requites precise adjustments to the machine and auxiliary accessories to accommodate diverse patient needs.
To achieve this, HIWIN uses its expertise in precision manufacturing and positioning system technology.
From the early stages of product development, we collaborated with medical universities and hospitals to create high-efficiency, affordable solutions tailored to user requirements.
Due to the variability in patients’ gait patterns, different levels of support are provided throughout each phase of rehabilitation.
The technology incorporates specialised accessories to ensure that the robot is widely and safely used.
How has the technology impacted patient rehab?
Unlike conventional training methods, the HIWIN robot is designed to assist therapists in providing integrated, comprehensive treatment for their patients.
The primary goal is to help patients regain functional abilities and return to their normal lives as quickly as possible.
For example, in cases of SCI, it is particularly challenging for therapists to train patients to walk.
Traditional training often requires two or more therapists to manually control the patient’s trunk or lower limbs, demanding significant effort and resources.
HIWIN’s robot has been featured in five SCI journal publications, demonstrating its positive impact on patients, including improvements in movement control, balance (BBS) and muscle strength.
Today, the HIWIN robot assists 2,000 patients worldwide daily, enabling them to receive effective and efficient treatment.
What are your plans for the future?
Future rehabilitation robots will feature more advanced intelligence and real-time interactivity, incorporating additional bio-sensors to enable active training, intention detection and real-time guidance.
With the integration of big data analysis, personaliSed training plans can be tailored to each patient.
HIWIN is dedicated to continuous innovation, addressing the evolving needs of clinical rehabilitation by introducing products with enhanced AI capabilities and cutting-edge features.
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