 | Pam Stanberry, RN, MBA, chief executive officer of Wesley Rehabilitation
Hospital, has both a clinical and an administrative background in health care. You can reach Pam at Wesley
Rehabilitation Hospital, 8338 W. 13th Street N. in Wichita, call (316) 729-9999 or email pam.stanberry@healthsouth.com |
Health & Wellness
2005-11-01 16:02:00
What is an ‘AutoAmbulator’?
: I keep hearing about something called an Auto-Ambulator. What is it?
ANSWER: The AutoAmbulator is a machine designed to assist in the rehabilitation of people who have difficulty walking. It is the most advanced technology available for use in gait training therapy, which helps patients afflicted with balance, coordination and posture disorders regain a functional level of ambulation or walking. The unit uses a harness system, a treadmill, and robotic legs to provide a safe environment in which individuals may "re-learn" correct walking patterns. Individuals are first placed in the harness, which is attached to an overhead lift. This lift helps raise the individual to a standing position over the treadmill and, once upright, the unit is adjusted to the individual's weight bearing capability. Robotic legs are then attached to the individual's legs to help replicate the walking pattern when the treadmill is operating. A sophisticated machine resulting from years of research and development, the AutoAmbulator was approved for public use by the Food and Drug Administration in 2002. Its design includes numerous safety features such as hyper-sensitive automatic shutoffs that eliminate any risk of injury. Therapy using the AutoAmbulator is ideal for individuals who have a variety of neurological conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. To be considered for gait therapy using the AutoAmbulator, individuals must be evaluated for certain criteria including a pre-specified degree of weight bearing ability. In addition, the unit will only accommodate individuals up to 300 lbs. in weight and between five foot and six-feet seven-inches in height. To date, it is not considered appropriate for young patients who have yet to reach skeletal maturity. With a physician's prescription, trained therapists will provide the evaluation to determine if this new therapy may prove to be beneficial.
