The Department of Medical Services uses walking robots to help neurological patients walk faster.
17 Nov. – The Department of Medical Services brings innovation and technology in robot assisted gait training (Robotic assisted gait training) for treatment and rehabilitation. To provide neurological patients with a better quality of life Able to perform everyday activities and participate in society like a normal person.
Dr. Amphon Benjaphonpitak Acting Director-General of the Department of Medical Services said that according to the important and urgent policy "Quick Win" of Dr. Chonnan Srikaew, Minister of Public Health, on the issue of High Medical Technology that focuses on further developing technology to care for patients with various diseases. which the Medical Department has a mission to take care of Maintain and restore the body Therefore, we are concerned and see the importance. Especially illnesses from neurological diseases Therefore, medical information technology has been introduced to reform the hospital's work system. To provide Thai elderly and disabled people with systematic and thorough care. Access to quality health services and promote the use of medical services with advanced technology One of the technologies used is robot assisted gait training, a technology used to increase balance and stability while walking for patients and disabled people by the Department of Medical Services. It has been used in 2 agencies: Sirindhorn National Institute for Medical Rehabilitation. and Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital
Dr. Phattara Angsuwan, Director of the Sirindhorn Institute for Medical Rehabilitation Added that Walking training with a robot gait training machine (Robotic assisted gait training) is a modern technology for training movement skills in walking. Used to rehabilitate patients with stroke. spinal injury patient Pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and Parkinson's patients, etc. Patients will practice walking on a sliding conveyor belt that has a body weight support frame and the robot's legs intersect with the patient's legs. which robot's legs It is driven by a computer system that controls the movement of the hip and knee joints. Makes the patient walk with a rhythm and a natural walking posture. This is similar to actual balancing that occurs in everyday life. It is the most accurate to the walking pattern, safe and can be practiced repeatedly over a long period of time. It stimulates the learning of movement for the patient. You can develop your walking style and increase the strength of your leg muscles. Practice walking 3 - 5 times per week. The duration of training is 30-45 minutes each time, with approximately 12-20 sessions of treatment you will see changes.
Dr. Sasithorn Sirimaharaj, Director of Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital Added that the Department of Medical Services by Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital Has introduced robot gait training technology (Robotic Gait Training) to provide service for the first time in the northern region. To provide people in the northern region with the highest rate of stroke patients, number 1 out of the top 5 neurological diseases. Have equal access to and receive quality medical services. It opened for service in 2019 until now. There have been a total of 2,391 service recipients and service recipients are satisfied. This is 97 percent. Training with a walking robot combined with physical therapy is more likely to enable stroke patients to walk on their own than physical therapy alone. and make balance better In addition, among patients with spinal cord injuries Pediatric patients with cerebral palsy Resulting in improving the patient's balance in standing and moving
Source: Thai News Agency