Shriners Philadelphia adds ZeroG to their therapy program
Source: Shriners International
After a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), most patients and families list walking as one of their top goals of rehabilitation. Twenty years ago, SCI typically meant a patient had to use a wheelchair. Treatment options were very limited and rarely helped with standing and walking. Thankfully, advancements in science and therapy now provide higher hopes for healing.
Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Philadelphia now has the ZeroG Overground Gait and Balance Training System available for patients. This system supports a patient’s body weight and can be used in many ways. Unlike other systems that can only be used on a treadmill, the ZeroG system can also be used over the ground, on a therapy mat, and even for transfer and fall prevention training.
The ZeroG system is mounted to a driven trolley, which rides along an overhead track. Patients put on a special harness, which is connected to a cable that attaches to the trolley. The system can provide up to 300 pounds of static support and 150 pounds of dynamic support. It allows patients with severe gait impairments to practice walking and balance activities in a safe and controlled way.
ZeroG will allow patients at Shriners Philadelphia to practice a variety of activities to help them achieve functional independence at home and in their communities. The Philadelphia hospital is the first in the Shriners Hospitals for Children system and the first hospital in the city of Philadelphia to have ZeroG.
