From a tongue piercing that’s much more than just a piece of jewelry to a robot that helps the paralyzed walk. We’ll show you technology that’s helping people with disabilities move around like never before. Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body. Paraplegia often involves loss of sensation (of pain, temperature, vibration, and position) as well as loss of motion. It may also include paralysis of the bladder and bowel. Paraplegia may be caused by injury to or disease of the lower spinal cord or peripheral nerves or by such brain disorders as cerebral palsy. Some paraplegics are able to walk with the aid of braces and crutches. Quadriplegia involves paralysis of both arms and both legs. Respiration may also be affected if the upper cervical region of the spinal cord is damaged. (www.britannica.com)
WHEELCHAIRS: Life in a wheelchair carries a hefty healthcare price tag. Serious problems with the urinary, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems are common, as well as osteoporosis, pressure sores and other health-related problems associated with long-term wheelchair use. (www.argomedtec.com)
REWALK: Produced by Argo Medical Technologies Ltd., ReWalk does not only restore mobility to people with severe walking impairments, it enables wheelchair users to stand, walk, and climb stairs, restoring upright mobility, quality of life, health, inclusion, and more. It is the first commercially available upright walking technology. Adoption of ReWalk™ by wheelchair users results in significant cost saving at both institutions and private homes. ReWalk™ makes standing devices, stair lifts, bed lifts, and other mobility assistance apparatus redundant. Similarly, ReWalk™ users don't require expensive powered wheelchairs – or the oversize vehicles and devices required to handle them. With ReWalk™, users require only minimal additional mobility assistance – dramatically increasing independence together with cost saving on a yearly basis. There will be two forms of ReWalk, the ReWalk-I, for institutional use, and the ReWalk-P for personal use. The ReWalk-I is currently available at rehabilitation centers in the US and Europe. The ReWalk-P has a sportive look and is intended for a daily use by qualified paraplegics, i.e. after medical examination and successful completion of a training program in a rehabilitation center. As a personal device, the ReWalk™-P can be used indoors and outdoors in almost any urban scenario. The device is not intended for sports or aggressive use. It will be available in the end of 2011. (www.argomedtec.com)
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marsha Hitchcock at mhitchcock@ivanhoe.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
