Lokomat®, a Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation Device, How Does It Help Patients Walk Again?

By: Thalia Kaylyn Averil

Lokomat® is an orthosis or body movement assistive device that utilizes robotic technology and is used in neurological rehabilitation to automate the functions of the musculoskeletal system. This device is used as a tool that trains the patient’s gait. The Lokomat® consists of harness straps that serve as body weight support and is combined with a treadmill. By using harness straps, part of the patient’s weight is supported by the device while the rest is supported by the patient themselves. The treadmill functions to help patients use their legs according to a normal gait. Lokomat® can replicate the biomechanics of the lower limbs during walking and is sometimes combined with other technologies, such as augmented reality. The patient’s knee and hip joints will be moved by electric motors. The robot’s lifting of the leg can induce passive ankle movements during the swing phase and facilitate the patient’s gait, making the Lokomat® a body movement assistive device. Facilitated gait include matching the walking cycle, coordinating between body parts and joints, and using appropriate loads for each body part programmed according to the kinematics of normal walking patterns.

Figure 1. Lokomat®.

Lokomat® has actuators at the hip and knee joints to induce flexion and extension movements of the hip and knee. Initially, Lokomat® will help the patient to move along a predetermined trajectory. As the treatment using Lokomat® progresses, the patient’s ability to bear weight will increase, and the assistance from the device will decrease, requiring the patient to take on a greater role.

Lokomat® can be used for adult, elderly and pediatric patients. Lokomat® is an option for patients with impaired lower extremity coordination due to brain, neurological, spinal, or orthopedic conditions, such as:

Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Cerebral palsy
Parkinson’s disease
Partial paraplegia
Traumatic brain injury

In general, rehabilitation using Lokomat® lasts four to eight weeks. Sessions will be held three times a week with a duration of approximately one hour each session. Abdi Waluyo Hospital offers rehabilitation using Lokomat®, a revolutionary robotic therapy that can significantly improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients with neurological and orthopedic conditions.

Resources

Shore Regional Health University of Maryland. Lokomat robotic gait rehabilitation [Internet]. Baltimore: University of Maryland; date of publication unknown [cited 2024 Feb 27]. Available from: https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/rehabilitation/outpatient-services/physical-therapy/lokomat-robotic-gait
Baronchelli F, Zucchella C, Serrao M, Intiso D, Bartolo M. The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol. 2021 Jul 6;12:661815. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8289887/
Rudt S, Moos M, Seppey S, Riener R, Marchal-Crespo L. Towards more efficient robotic gait training: A novel controller to modulate movement errors. 2016 6th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). 2016 Jun. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Lokomat-Hocoma-AG-Switzerland-is-a-bilateral-gait-robotic-orthosis-that-is-used_fig1_305135632