Content of the article.
The Institute for Child Development (ARIE) acquired the first Lokomat robot unit in Peru so that it can be used in rehabilitation therapies for children and adolescents with gait disorders (RPP, 2020). Lokomat therapy uses a robotic gait orthosis to improve users’ walking ability (Llorente & Robles, 2014). An orthosis is an externally applied device used on the body to modify functional aspects of the neuromuscular and/or skeletal system (WHO, 2017).
In this sense, Lokomat can be described as a robot designed to help improve the gait of children and adolescents with disabilities. It uses robotic technology and virtual reality to stimulate motor functions by training the brain through repetition of the muscle movements necessary for appropriate walking (RPP, 2020). Although this technology can be highly beneficial for rehabilitation progress, not every person with a disability can use it. Some requirements include being over four years old, having a femur measuring at least 21 cm, having a certain capacity for partial weight-bearing gait and the cognitive ability to follow instructions and report pain, having intact skin, having no severe lower-limb joint contractures, and having adequate ventilatory capacity (Llorente & Robles, 2014).
This new resource represents an important advance for rehabilitation therapies because it optimizes therapy routines and saves human resources while also providing greater precision in performing the tasks included in rehabilitation sessions.
References:
Llorente, L. & Robles, K. (2014). Experiencia de la terapia con Lokomat en pacientes portadores de parálisis cerebral y síndromes atáxicos, instituto de rehabilitación infantil teletón Concepción – Chile. Revista Médica Clínica CONDES, 25(2)249-254. https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-medica-clinica-las-condes-202-pdf-S0716864014700355
World Health Organization [WHO]. (2017). Prosthetics and Orthotics Standards. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259508/9789243512488-part1-spa.pdf;jsessionid=1C57930C791E5C2F1A21BA3BE2C2B076?sequence=1
Radio Programas del Perú [RPP]. (November 27, 2020). Conoce Lokomat, el robot que es capaz de ayudar de caminar a niños con discapacidad y que ha llegado a Perú. https://rpp.pe/tecnologia/mas-tecnologia/lokomat-este-robot-es-capaz-de-ayudar-de-caminar-a-ninos-con-discapacidad-y-ha-llegado-a-peru-noticia-1306667?ref=rpp
