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GaitMaster 5 Helps Partially Paralyzed Patients Regain Mobility

by Caleb Johnson on March 24, 2010 at 04:45 PM

A team of Japanese researchers have created a machine that could restore muscle memory in people who are partially paralyzed, possibly heping them to walk again. According to IEEE Spectrum, the group from the University of Tsukuba will present the details of their research at the 2010 Haptics Symposium this week in Massachusetts.

Dubbed the GaitMaster 5, the physical therapy machine is similar to a high-tech treadmill. However, unlike a regular piece of exercise equipment, it controls every movement the user makes. The person straps his or her feet into pads that are lined with sensors. These pads are connected to motion platforms that can move the user's foot forward (simulating walking) or up and down (like climbing). At first, the machine controls every movement, but after several hours, the person may begin to regain some muscle memory. As memory improves, the machine's settings can be tweaked to allow more autonomous movement. In a trial with two partially paralyzed stroke victims, the Gaitmaster 5 even restored some muscle memory in one side of their bodies.

This device sounds like an intuitive way to re-teach paralyzed people to walk, especially when because it'll never get tired -- like a physical therapist might. [From: IEEE Spectrum]

Tags: breakthrough, haptics, health, legs, muscle, paralyzed, physical therapy, PhysicalTherapy, research, science, top, University of Tsukuba, UniversityOfTsukuba, walking

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