Bionic Leg at Whittier: Stroke Patients Walk Their Way to Gait Recovery
Whittier is first rehabilitation hospital in the nation to offer Robocop-looking therapeutic aid.
Stroke patients rehabilitating at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Haverhill, MA are among the first in the nation to “walk their way to recovery” with the aid of a new bionic leg.
Whittier is the first U.S. rehabilitation hospital to offer patients the Tibion Bionic Leg, a sophisticated computerized device that provides the assistance and resistance that stroke survivors require to re-learn how to stand up, walk and climb stairs without the use of a walker, cane or even a stair railing.
The appearance of Whittier’s new Tibion Bionic Leg is reminiscent of that sported by the protagonist in the movie “Robocop.” But inside, Whittier’s new device contains a sophisticated computer and powerful small motors capable of helping a stroke patient weighing more than 200 lbs to regain lost ability to walk normally.
“We’re very enthusiastic about being the first rehabilitation hospital in the nation to offer this kind of robotic therapy to our patients,” said neurologist Joan Breen, MD, leader of Whittier’s stroke rehabilitation program.
“While we’ve just initiated therapy with a limited number of outpatients, we see the potential to apply the Bionic Leg to our inpatient population as well,” she said. “Perhaps we can help them avoid the troublesome stroke gait that is very physically exhausting, and places them at increased risk of falls and fractured hips.”
One of the first Whittier patients to benefit from Bionic Leg therapy is Merrick Teague, 62, of Georgetown, MA. Mr. Teague had a stroke a year ago, and says his doctors told him he’d never walk again. After just five one-hour sessions with Whittier’s Bionic Leg, he reports he’s much more mobile.
“I can now walk 30 feet without a cane, I can climb stairs with both legs, I can do the dishes – I can take out the garbage, just not drag the cans to the curb,” Mr. Teague reports. “My wife is amazed.”
According to Mr. Teague, the Bionic Leg “talks to him” – referring to the staccato pulsing sounds of its tiny motors when he doesn’t provide the effort necessary to perform some action he wants to do.
“At the beginning, it would talk to me all the time, telling me where I wasn’t stepping right. But now, as I make progress, it doesn’t talk to me much anymore. I’m very impressed by it.”
“At Whittier, we’re committed to bringing the latest rehabilitation technology to this region,” explains Robert Iannaco, PT, administrator of the Bradford, MA facility. “We believe our combination of staff and technology makes us New England’s rehab provider of choice for patients and insurers.”
Stroke patients interested in being evaluated for Bionic Leg therapy should ask their physicians to refer them to the Whittier Bradford outpatient department at (978) 469-1425, or contact the department directly.
About Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Bradford is a long term acute rehabilitation hospital located at 145 Ward Hill Avenue, Bradford, MA 01835, serving patients throughout New England. It is part of a family-owned network of healthcare facilities spanning hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home care and pharmacy. It is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The Bradford facility’s team of interdisciplinary rehabilitation professionals provides inpatient, outpatient, and home health services. It accepts admissions from emergency rooms, acute care hospitals, physician offices, and home. It accepts Medicare, most Medicaid, workers compensation and insurance plans, including a wide range of major HMOs and PPOs.