Electronic leg brace gives polio patient new mobility
14 Feb 2011
A 63-year-old woman suffering from muscular paralysis as a
result of childhood polio has become the first UK patient to wear a
revolutionary, electronically controlled leg brace that helps restore or
maintain mobility.
Jane Rutterford, a retired mother of two from Essex, is now
experiencing a regular walking pattern for the first time due to the
device, which has recently become available on the NHS.
The E-MAG Active from Otto Bock Healthcare, designed to boost
mobility and the quality of life of stroke and polio patients, uses
intelligent sensor technology to constantly measure the position of
the wearer’s leg while walking, ensuring it locks and unlocks at the
right times.
It
is a lightweight system that works independently of the ankle joint
or sole of the foot. As a result, users with no ankle functionality
due to paralysis caused by a stroke or polio are able to achieve
improved mobility via a more natural, smoother gait pattern when
doing everyday tasks such as strolling through the park, gardening
or walking around a supermarket.
Jane had polio at nine years old and is now dealing with
Post-Polio Syndrome. The electronically controlled knee-joint,
launched earlier this year in the UK, provides her with constant
orthotic support to help prevent her getting overly tired during the
day (see photo on right).
“The E-MAG Active is wonderful and I’m sure it is the way forward
for polio patients like me with walking difficulties,” commented
Jane Rutterford. “Wearing the E-MAG is like having therapy while
getting on with your life, offering me excellent support to do the
things I love doing such as gardening. It’s essential for me as a
person to be as independent as possible and as it’s so comfortable I
can wear it all day every day. It’s become an integral part of my
life; the support it gives me is terrific.”
“Post-Polio Syndrome affects around 100,000 people in the UK,
while approximately a further 300,000 people are living with
moderate to severe disabilities as a result of stroke,” said David
Buchanan, Business Development Manager of Otto Bock Healthcare.
“Appropriate rehabilitation helps to provide a better outcome, but
orthoses such as those designed by Otto Bock aid and enhance the
recovery process. We are delighted that Jane is benefiting from
greater confidence and independence in her every day life thanks to
the mobility, safety and reliability that E-MAG Active is providing
her with.”