Robotic Therapy for Targeted Outcomes in Physical Rehabilitation

Robotic rehabilitation, which can be applied to both children and adults for conditions ranging from neurological diseases like stroke to orthopedic issues and post-surgical rehabilitation, aims to reintegrate patients into their daily lives. At Liv Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, robotic rehabilitation processes are personalized to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Increased Effectiveness of Treatment

The use of robotic therapies in rehabilitation enhances the effectiveness of treatment by achieving precise results. Robotic rehabilitation personalizes the treatment process by closely and meticulously monitoring every movement of the patient. Thus, targeted exercises lead to better outcomes. Robotic therapy, used to accelerate, personalize, and monitor the rehabilitation process, allows patients to regain their motor functions.

Who Can Benefit?

• Children and adults with neurological diseases
• Post-orthopedic surgery rehabilitation
• Elderly individuals with balance or walking problems due to aging
• Post-surgical rehabilitation

Robotic rehabilitation, applicable to both children and adults for neurological diseases, orthopedic problems, and post-surgical rehabilitation, aims to help patients return to their functional daily activities.

Which Diseases Is It Used For?

• Stroke
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Cerebral Palsy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Traumatic and Ischemic Brain Diseases
• Orthopedic Rehabilitation: Post-shoulder, elbow, and hand surgery
• Amputation Rehabilitation: Walking training and balance development before and after prosthesis use
• Vestibular Disorders: Managing balance issues
• Orthostatic Issues in Internal Diseases

Smart systems instantly detect whether movements are performed correctly. They provide feedback, maximizing the brain’s learning capacity.

Advantages

• During robotic rehabilitation, every movement of the patient is meticulously monitored. The data obtained is used to detect movement disorders and personalize treatment processes.
• Provides targeted exercises to reorganize brain functions, encouraging healthy parts of the brain to take over the functions of the damaged areas.
• Ensures continuous communication between the physiotherapist and the patient; thus, therapists can monitor the patient’s progress in real-time and intervene when necessary.
• The patient’s movements and received feedback during rehabilitation are crucial in enhancing neuronal regeneration.
• Smart systems instantly detect whether movements are performed correctly and provide feedback to maximize the brain’s learning capacity.
• Gamification techniques are used to make the rehabilitation process more enjoyable, encouraging patients to engage more actively in their treatment.

Benefits of Regular Treatment

• Increased strength in upper and lower extremities
• Improved posture
• Increased bone density
• Improved bowel movements
• Enhanced sleep
• Reduced pain
• Decreased cholesterol
• Reduced spasticity
• Lower cardiovascular disease rates

ROBOTIC REHABILITATION AT LIV HOSPITAL

Walking Robot (Exoskeleton)

The robotic walking exoskeleton mimics natural walking movements, continuously stimulating brain centers. Repeated intensive exercises accelerate the brain’s post-damage reorganization. This method speeds up the recovery process and improves walking patterns to be closer to normal.

Shoulder-Arm Robot

Used to regain shoulder and arm mobility, this robot offers targeted exercises for upper extremity rehabilitation. It reduces muscle weakness and increases the range of motion, allowing patients to return to their daily activities more quickly.

Balance Devices

Designed to manage balance problems, these devices help improve the patient’s body balance. Especially for neurological and orthopedic disorders, they provide a safe and effective rehabilitation process by reducing the risk of falls.

Robotic Bed

Used to mobilize bedridden patients, the robotic bed enhances the ability to change positions and activate muscles. It helps prevent pressure sores, reduces muscle atrophy, and improves overall comfort. It is also effective in reducing orthostatic complaints.

Robotic Rehabilitation Center and Multidisciplinary Clinics

Geriatrics

In geriatric patients, treating sarcopenia and malnutrition, as well as managing the use of medications and accompanying chronic diseases (such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis), is crucial in preventing falls and ensuring effective rehabilitation. Therefore, sarcopenia, malnutrition, polypharmacy, and chronic disease management are integral parts of the robotic rehabilitation center’s approach to geriatric care.

Psychiatry

Patients undergoing robotic rehabilitation often experience chronic and stressful disorders. Medical and psychotherapeutic support can be provided to address coping and adjustment issues. These methods can help resolve underlying psychological issues more quickly, improving the patient’s overall mental well-being.

Pediatric Neurology

In pediatric neurological conditions, robotic rehabilitation supports the treatment of cerebral palsy and issues related to sitting and walking. Early brain development in the first two years can benefit from robotic rehabilitation, aiding in the proper organization of brain functions. It can also address issues related to immobility, such as bowel and nutrition problems.

Neurosurgery

For children with cerebral palsy, neurosurgery may involve a procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). This procedure targets spastic muscle groups that impair normal movement, such as walking, by cutting sensory roots in the spinal cord. This reduces spasticity and facilitates more effective physiotherapy. Selection of patients who can benefit from this surgery is important, as muscle relaxation significantly aids in spasticity treatment.

Orthopedics and Traumatology

Post-trauma or orthopedic surgeries require physical therapy as an indispensable element of health and quality of life. Pain management, increasing joint range of motion, regaining muscle strength, and developing proprioceptive skills are critical for patients to return to their previous lives. Therefore, physical therapy should be an integral part of orthopedic treatment plans with a personalized approach for each patient.

Robotic-assisted physical therapy provides significant improvements in speed and success rates in orthopedic rehabilitation. The benefits of technologies in regaining joint range of motion, enhancing proprioception, and increasing muscle strength enable patients to recover more rapidly and effectively.

Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases / Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy is a rehabilitative approach aimed at improving communication skills. It is effective for various conditions including mild, moderate, and severe learning disabilities, speech delays, speech disorders, voice production issues, hearing impairments, cleft lip and palate, stuttering, and voice disorders. In adults, especially after neurological conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s, it aims to minimize communication problems.

Neurological disorders can also affect swallowing functions. Swallowing therapy starts with a comprehensive assessment and uses tailored treatment methods to improve swallowing functions, enhancing nutrition safety and enabling more independent living.

Neurosurgery

Neuropathic pain, bladder dysfunction, and spasticity often occur after spinal cord injuries, requiring a multifaceted treatment approach. Integrating neurosurgery and robotic rehabilitation provides a comprehensive treatment plan, aiming to improve both physical and neurological functions and overall quality of life.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is an important treatment option for managing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. It helps restructure nerve pathways in the brain and spinal cord and suppress pain signals. When used with robotic rehabilitation, TMS enhances effectiveness, allowing patients to manage pain better and regain motor functions, facilitating their adaptation to daily activities and increasing participation in the rehabilitation process.

Spinal Cord Stimulators: Used for chronic neuropathic pain following spinal cord injuries, these stimulators block pain signals from the spinal cord to the brain, offering effective pain management. Integrating spinal cord stimulators with robotic rehabilitation improves patients’ mobility and engagement in the rehabilitation process, positively impacting their performance by controlling pain.

Bladder Puncture Devices: These devices play a critical role in managing bladder dysfunctions after spinal cord injuries. They help restore normal bladder muscle function, regulating urine retention and elimination. Using bladder devices during robotic rehabilitation aids patients in regaining bladder control and improving overall quality of life, allowing for more independence and effective participation in rehabilitation.

Baclofen Pumps: Used to control spasticity, a condition where muscles remain continuously contracted, baclofen pumps deliver muscle relaxant medication directly into the spinal fluid. This reduces spasticity, enabling more effective exercises during robotic rehabilitation and supporting motor function development. Controlling spasticity allows patients to benefit more from the rehabilitation process.

Speech and Language Therapy / Swallowing Rehabilitation

Speech and language therapy is a comprehensive approach aimed at improving and strengthening communication skills. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions including learning disabilities, speech delays, language disorders, voice production issues, and hearing impairments. For adults, particularly following neurological conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and head trauma, it aims to minimize communication problems and enhance quality of life.

Neurological conditions can also impact swallowing functions. Swallowing therapy starts with a detailed evaluation and employs customized treatment methods to improve swallowing capabilities, enhance nutrition safety, and support more independent living.