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| More Robots in Rehab: How Rex the Exoskeleton May Provide Better Physical Therapy |
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by Lisa B. Minn, PT - July 21, 2010
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 I saw this link about Rex the Exoskeleton yesterday and I just had to share it. This is great! Granted, it doesn’t allow ‘normal’ walking and can’t replace the speed and efficiency of a wheelchair but the physical and social benefits must be terrific. Standing has long been an important aspect of rehab for those with paralysis of the legs but it is typically done in a standing frame in which you are immobile. I’m sure that it would be quite tedious to stand locked in place for hours a day. This new device is great because it provides all the physiologic benefits of standing but allows the user to move and to be much more independent.
The $150,000 price tag does seem exorbitant and hopefully that price will come down as the technology improves and production ramps up. But when you consider the benefits, the price seems to be more reasonable. Standing improves circulation and increases bone density. It decreases the incidence of joint contractures, pressure sores, bladder and bowel problems. It lessens the chance of developing lung problems or blood clots. If this device can keep users out of the hospital and away from extra medications, it may actually save money in the long run. What are the chances that insurance companies will help pay for this kind of technology? I hope they will.
Lisa Minn is a licensed physical therapist and yoga enthusiast. She has been incorporating aspects of Yoga and Pilates into her physical therapy practice since 2001 and became a certified yoga instructor in 2004. Her experience ranges from working with athletes at West Point and Georgetown to instructing elderly and wheelchair-bound clients in the fundamentals of Hatha Yoga. Lisa has conducted several lectures and workshops across the US, as well as in Honduras and Peru, where she volunteered her services. She currently resides and practices in Northern California. This and other articles by Lisa can be found at The Pragmatic Yogi.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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