Innovative Therapies

Armeo

Armeo Therapy is a highly effective and innovative therapy in the field of occupational therapy that is designed to improve upper limb motor function in patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Developed by Swiss medical technology company Hocoma, Armeo Therapy is a robotic-assisted therapy that was first introduced in 2006. Since then, cutting-edge rehabilitation technology has been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, which can result in impaired arm and hand function. Such disabilities can be very limiting for patients, making even most of the basic everyday movements a challenge.

The severity of patients’ upper limb impairment varies depending on the condition. That`s why the occupational therapists at the Kliniken Schmieder must tailor the therapy plan to the patient’s individual needs.

How Does Armeo Therapy Work?

The therapy involves a robotic arm attached to a computer monitor. An exoskeleton is attached to the patient’s affected arm, which extends from the shoulder to the hand and relieves the patient’s impaired arm of its own weight. This exoskeleton can be customised. The robotic arm is equipped with sensors that track the movement of the patient’s arm and provide resistance to specific movements to help build strength and coordination.

During the therapy session at Kliniken Schmieder, patients are required to perform various motor exercises with the help of the robotic arm while receiving real-time feedback from the computer monitor. Patients are also encouraged to reach, grasp, and release objects in a virtual reality environment. The computer monitor displays a variety of exercises designed to challenge the patient’s motor skills and coordination. The robotic arm provides assistance and resistance to help the patient complete the exercises. Armeo Therapy works by providing patients with a controlled and repeatable environment in which to practice similar movements.
The computer monitor records the performance results of each individual patient to make progress more visible and increase patient motivation. The occupational therapists analyse the results of the individual therapy sessions and adjust the exercises to the different ability levels, individual progress, and needs of the patients.

Armeo offers an innovative and motivating alternative to conventional therapy options, which can make a significant contribution to increasing the use of the impaired arm in everyday life.

Expected Results

Several studies have demonstrated how Armeo Therapy can significantly improve upper limb motor function in patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. A study published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that Armeo Therapy was significantly more effective than conventional therapy in improving upper limb motor function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy after 12 weeks of therapy. Another study in stroke patients noted that Armeo was a potent tool for improving upper limb motor function.

Armeo treatment has a long-term effect. Through motivation, repetitive practice, and task orientation, functional improvements are achieved that contribute to the patient’s progress in recovery.

The benefits of Armeo Therapy go beyond improved motor function. The therapy can also help reduce pain, improve the range of motion, and increase the patient’s self-confidence.

The Kliniken Schmieder focuses on a patient-oriented, interdisciplinary, innovative, and personalised rehabilitation concept for the patient, developed by professors, doctors, therapists, and nurses.
Armeo represents one of the possible occupational therapy methods from a multitude of therapy variants at the Kliniken Schmieder. Our experts, doctors and therapists, decide individually and depending on the course of the patient’s illness whether the form of therapy with Armeo is used and conducive to the desired physical improvement.