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Follow on Google News | Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Becomes 3rd Organization in U.S. To Have Ekso ExoskeletonGood Shepherd Rehabilitation Network now has Ekso bionic exoskeleton that allows those with lower-extremity paralysis or weakness to stand and walk.
By: Patty Pologruto Ekso is a ready-to-wear, battery-powered exoskeleton that is strapped over the user’s clothing with Velcro and clips. The combination of motors and sensors, along with patient assist with balance and body positioning, allow the user to walk over ground with an efficient reciprocal gait pattern. The device can be adjusted in a few minutes to fit most people weighing 220 pounds or less, and between 5’2” and 6’2”. Good Shepherd purchased an Ekso and is using it in therapy for patients with spinal cord injuries and MS. Good Shepherd’s Ekso also will be available for “maintenance” For Kevin Oldt of Allentown, PA, and Justin Ubel of Pen Argyl, PA, that means experiencing the simple joy of walking. Both Oldt and Ubel trialed the previous generation of Ekso (then eLEGS) when it was at Good Shepherd last May. “I didn’t remember how tall I am,” said Oldt, 45, when he stood for the first time in the Ekso. Oldt’s spinal cord injury occurred about 10 years ago during snow-mobile accident. He has been preparing for the return of Ekso by keeping his upper body strong with regular gym workouts and stretching and moving in Good Shepherd’s warm-water pool twice a week. “I look forward to standing next to my girlfriend – looking at her eye-to-eye,” From March 14-16, Kevin, Justin and several other patients with lower-extremity weakness or paralysis will work with Good Shepherd’s outpatient neuro-rehabilitation therapists and the Ekso Bionics staff to train with the new technology. After that training, Ekso will be ready for regular therapy and maintenance use at Good Shepherd. Unveiled in October, 2010, and six years in development by Ekso Bionics (formerly Berkeley Bionics) ( http://youtu.be/ “When we began selecting the first 10 charter centers, Good Shepherd was an obvious choice for Ekso Bionics due to its position as a national leader in the early adoption and use of rehabilitation technology,” "Good Shepherd is proud to be one of the first post-acute care facilities in the country to have an Ekso bionic exoskeleton," # # # Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network (www.GoodShepherdRehab.org ): Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Good Shepherd is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering a continuum of care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. Good Shepherd utilizes one of the nation’s largest cadre of rehabilitation technologies to facilitate and guide motor function and control. Ekso Bionics (http://www.eksobionics.com): Formerly known as Berkeley Bionics, Ekso is headquartered in Berkeley, California, with offices in London, UK, and is a designer and maker of wearable robots, or exoskeletons, that physically augment humans. End
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