Eksoskeleton Walking Frame Helps Patients Regain Mobility

Bryan Health recently introduced a new piece of technology, Eksoskeleton, a computerized walking frame that helps patients regain mobility.

An Eksoskeleton supports a patient’s body weight as he or she learns to walk and regain mobility. As it moves, Ekso continuously monitors the wearer's position and encourages a normal walking pattern. It also helps individuals travel longer distances to enhance nerve and muscle recovery. The robot is customized to each patient’s specific needs and increases safety by reducing the risk of falls.

Ekso is used in the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Bryan West Campus. The equipment is of particular benefit to those learning to walk again after a stroke or traumatic injury to the brain or spine. It also helps those with illnesses affecting muscle strength. The Ekso frame fits people roughly 5'4" inches to 6'4" inches tall who weigh less than 220 pounds. Over two dozen patients at Bryan have benefited from the new piece of technology.

Generous Donation from Eagles Made it all Possible 

Ekso was made possible by a generous donation to the Bryan Foundation from the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2021. The international, non-profit organization unites people in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality to make human life more desirable. One of the specific charities of the Fraternal Order of Eagles is to donate Ekso technology to hospitals around the country to improve the lives of those in rehab.

Brian Carlson is from Wahoo, Nebraska. In 2021, the preschool teacher was diagnosed with COVID-19. After a week, his illness manifested into severe muscle weakness. Carlson found himself in the intensive care unit at Bryan West Campus where he lay completely paralyzed, relying on a ventilator to breathe.

Among the First  

During his illness, he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is a rare, often devastating neurological complication from COVID-19 that derails the body’s immune system and causes it to mistakenly attack muscles and nerves. Like most of the 4,500 Americans GBS strikes each year, Carlson slowly regained his ability to breathe, talk and move. However, walking was slow to return.

Carlson was among the first patients to use Ekso at Bryan Health. Slowly, the technology helped him regain his ability to walk. During physical therapy sessions, specialists programed the robot to provide less assistance each day. Eventually, Carlson was strong enough to transition away from Ekso and walk on his own. In October, he returned home to his family farm near Wahoo and the life he enjoyed before COVID-19.

On Tuesday, members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and staff at Bryan Health held a special program to showcase the Ekso, featuring a live demonstration of the technology.