How do they work?
The way in which the robotic legs operate is very unique. The central pattern generator (CPG) is what allows the robotic legs to move the patient’s legs without the patient having to think about it. The simplest form of a CPG is a half-centre, or two neurons located in the lumbar area of the spinal cord that produce rhythmic muscle signals. Sensors then control the signals by collecting information from the responding parts of the body and detecting the force of stepping on a surface. Many researchers have found evidence that suggests that a simple half-centre is what babies start out with and learn a more complex walking pattern over time.
benefits
Some doctors have found the robotic legs have medical benefits. Testing has shown that the legs may offer some remedies to the discomfort that patients with disabilities experience. According to Kristin Gustafson, director of spinal-cord injury services at Good Shepherd Penn Partners, some patients have experienced less muscle spasms and reduced swelling of their joints. Other doctors have found that the quality of the patients life has also improved. Dr. Esquenazi from MossRehab reports patients have less difficulty using the bathroom, due to gravity helping empty the bladder when they stand. Doctors and researchers alike hope that further into the future, these legs will help patients maintain bone strength and good circulation.
Although these improvements might seem small, they are in no way considered small by the patient. The everyday activities we, as people without disabilities, take for granted can make a huge difference in a paralyzed or handicapped person’s life. Not being able to perform simple task such as going to the bathroom properly can actually be detrimental to the patient’s health. Being sedentary can end up causing several different infections to occur, not the least of which can be urinary tract infections. Even if a patient does not contract an infection, being able to normally use the bathroom on a daily basis relieves stress and embarrassment and is certainly of great significance to the patients’ quality of life.
Although these improvements might seem small, they are in no way considered small by the patient. The everyday activities we, as people without disabilities, take for granted can make a huge difference in a paralyzed or handicapped person’s life. Not being able to perform simple task such as going to the bathroom properly can actually be detrimental to the patient’s health. Being sedentary can end up causing several different infections to occur, not the least of which can be urinary tract infections. Even if a patient does not contract an infection, being able to normally use the bathroom on a daily basis relieves stress and embarrassment and is certainly of great significance to the patients’ quality of life.
War veterans
With the United States having handicapped veterans from previous wars as well as soldiers of the present who have come back from battle without being able use their legs, the robotic legs could open many doors for them. These legs could provide countless disabled veterans with the chance to stand, walk, run, jump, and to do things they have not been able to do since before the war. Some soldiers have advanced prosthetics, usually costing as much as one hundred thousand dollars, but they do not allow the freedom that robotic legs could offer and frequently cause discomfort and pain. Sometimes, these soldiers still end up needing forty-dollar crutches along with the advanced prosthetics. Robotic legs, although expensive, would solve the problems that veterans have with other prosthetics.
PHysical therapy
Robotic legs have even been used for physical therapy and rehabilitation purposes as well. This has been going on for years now, but with new and more advanced technology the results are better than ever. Physical therapists at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital are using the Lokomat System to deliver locomotion therapy to patients that have had strokes, partial spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, or are fighting illnesses like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. The Lokomat System uses robotic legs to help the patient learn how to walk again, while measuring the patients leg strength, hip and knee joint movements, and overall progress. Tim Bowman, research administrator for the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, reports that the technology in the Lokomat allows therapists to focus on helping patients reduce stiffness, improve force and regain a range of motion that will help them re-learn to walk.
Negatives
However, there have been arguments about the negative effects of these robotic legs. Researchers have found a downside to the robotic legs that could adversely affect the patient’s health. They are worried about patients who still have partial function of their legs. Instead of helping them get stronger, the robotic legs could make the patient lose what function they have left. Arun Jayaraman, assistant professor in the department of physical medicine rehabilitation at Northwestern University, says, “people who have some capability, you don’t want to make them passive.” Still, many patients have said they would rather have the robotic legs for independence, even if they lose the progress they have made in the past.
The future
Despite possible issues in the future, the potential positive outcomes can have a far greater affect on society. The technological advances in the scientific and medical fields have allowed these robotic legs to perform miracles. The legs are not limited to how they can be used in the future. They can not only be used for personal use by the patient, but also used by physical therapists to help patients re-learn how to walk and move by themselves. They have allowed scientists to turn the idea of eliminating wheelchairs, walkers, and simple prosthetics into a tangible goal. Even if the robotic legs make the patient more dependent and lose the progress they have made using their own legs, the patient can still have the option to turn down the legs. Everything is ultimately up to the patient’s choice.
This new transhumanistic technology is sure to bring countless people the joy of being able to do normal everyday tasks that we take for granted. They have the ability to bring improvements to the patient’s quality of life as well as to the patient’s health. The robotic legs could help an enormous amount of disabled people, including those affected by diseases, by accidents, by wars, by strokes, and by a number of other factors. As of now, these legs are far too expensive for the general public. However, if the medical benefits are proven to outweigh the disadvantages and doubt of certain groups, they may end up being covered by insurance or made more affordable in the future. Only time can reveal whether these robotic legs will become a regular part of society or not.
This new transhumanistic technology is sure to bring countless people the joy of being able to do normal everyday tasks that we take for granted. They have the ability to bring improvements to the patient’s quality of life as well as to the patient’s health. The robotic legs could help an enormous amount of disabled people, including those affected by diseases, by accidents, by wars, by strokes, and by a number of other factors. As of now, these legs are far too expensive for the general public. However, if the medical benefits are proven to outweigh the disadvantages and doubt of certain groups, they may end up being covered by insurance or made more affordable in the future. Only time can reveal whether these robotic legs will become a regular part of society or not.
Created for:
University of the Sciences
WR-102-04
Natalie Stella
University of the Sciences
WR-102-04
Natalie Stella