ROBOTIC CENTER

The newest addition to Better Being Hospital’s features was born out of the initiative to bring in the best possible innovation to our range of rehabilitation therapies. The Robotic Rehabilitation center was recently launched in October 2019 with the goal of benefitting our patients with more options to assist them in their recovery. 

What is Robotics Rehabilitation/Training?

A patient’s capacity and need for Robotics training is evaluated by the doctor and the physical therapy team. The patient is then fitted and strapped into a robotics device to which the machine does all the work. The robots are mainly used as gait trainers for lower limbs, and as arm and hand trainers for reaching and grasping movement. It assists with different therapeutic training for functions of the arms, hands, legs, ankles and assesses the improvement of the patient’s ability to move. In other words, it is meant to train lost body functions that have been altered due to the disease or injury.

Robotics training augments rehabilitation of persons with the following conditions:

• Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease
• Motor neuron disease
• Post stroke
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Multiple Sclerosis

Expected benefits from Robotics rehabilitation

• Improvements in active movement
• Improvement of functional limb use
• Regaining temporarily-lost functions and abilities 
• Improve overall sense of well-being

EPIDURAL STIMULATION

One of the treatment options at Better Being Hospital is the Epidural Stimulation. Epidural Stimulation or ES is most beneficial to persons with Spinal Cord Injuries with paralysis and holds great potential in regaining some abilities that have been affected by the injury.

How is Epidural Stimulation done?
The procedure is done by surgically implanting a device right over the spinal cord’s protective coating and is connected to the nerve systems. A small remote controls the frequency and intensity of the electrical current. This electrode sends electrical currents to stimulate muscle contractions on targeted muscle groups. Due to the damage in spinal cord injuries, the brain is unable to transmit signals to and from the muscles. This stimulation helps to reactivate and use whatever remaining intact neural networks within the spinal cord to direct the movements. ES is best combined with intensive physiotherapy training and other therapies related to the patient’s condition and symptoms.

There may be some concerns of complications on the implantation of the device specially in long-term use. But the risks are significantly less than having to undergo repeated back surgery and may be more cost-effective than many chronic therapies for pain.
The expected benefits of ES are the following:

• Overall sense of improved quality of life
• Improvement in regulation of temperature
• Enhancement in sexual function
• Increase in bladder control
• Improvement in certain leg movements