Everyone will stand up
In a year, exoskeleton maker ExoAtlet, focused on motor rehabilitation for people with locomotor disorders, plans to launch the final stage of external rehabilitation in Russia, according to Ekaterina Bereziy in a recent interview.
The initial pilot will roll out exo-gym facilities across multiple Russian regions. These spaces will serve as training hubs where patients can regularly and consistently exercise with exoskeletons.
The exoskeleton assists in rehabilitating individuals who have spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy in children, traumatic brain injury, and the aftermath of strokes.
“We are tasked with beginning the final phase of exrehabilitation. The goal is to give patients access to a certain amount of education after their stay in clinics, after which many will be able to stand independently again. The rollout can occur in several stages, starting with pilot exo-gym projects in Russia,” Bereziy explained.
These outpatient training centers will partner with clinics to guide patients toward ongoing exercise after a two-week hospital stay. An hour of training in an exo-gym is priced at 6.5 thousand rubles.
Bereziy noted that the first ExoGym is being designed for children, while ExoAthlet will launch in Moscow in collaboration with MedScan. The exact opening date for the juvenile exogym has not yet been announced.
“Unfortunately, plans have been somewhat delayed by an unstable environment. Earlier, charities were ready to work with us and there were deals and potential sponsors, but they are currently absent in Russia. As a result, we are actively seeking funding and have even applied for the Presidential Grant Fund competition. Results are expected in June. If funded, the project could begin immediately,” he stated.
The introduction of exo-gym facilities marks a crucial milestone in exo-rehabilitation. Today, patients can be admitted to clinics equipped with an exoskeleton, but after two weeks and ten prescribed training sessions they often leave, continuing their studies independently.
“The question of how to continue education remains open. This third stage of rehabilitation has not yet begun; in many cases it does not exist. Private clinics offer outpatient training, but these are isolated and not widely accessible. The aim is to make exo-gyms as common as inpatient rehabilitation, eventually incorporating this service into standard care and establishing tariffs, with the inclusion of compulsory health insurance in the process, a path that could take about two years.”
Additionally, there are plans to make exoskeleton-based therapy a standard element of medical care in the future.
“The economic and clinical effectiveness of the method has been established. Now the objective is to make this approach mandatory for all patients who visit clinics. A social network will be created to connect patients and doctors, enabling them to share experiences, offer support, and stay motivated,” a spokesperson noted.
How does it work?
The exoskeleton is a device that enables a paralyzed person to walk more like a healthy individual. It is used in exotherapy, a supervised neurotraining approach that includes walking, stair climbing, and various other exercises.
The device is adjusted to the patient’s height. While seated, the user dons the exoskeleton and is then positioned upright. The wearer is not burdened with a heavy suit; instead, they walk in tandem with the apparatus, overcoming obstacles along the way.
The control system offers three ways to maintain balance and assist movement: a joystick attached to the device, a tablet interface, and safety levers operated by a companion.
Through training, patients develop a pattern of independent walking, improve the strength of the lower limbs, increase the range of motion in leg joints, and reduce trunk sway.
Experts note that this form of walking trains not only the muscles but also the nervous system, helping the brain relearn how to control the legs after an injury.
“The patient and the exoskeleton are separate elements. The key point is that this movement stimulates the brain and spinal cord, so the nervous system begins to function properly again,” one commentator observed.
Exogyms are a must
Motorica’s co-founder and CEO, Ilya Chekh, believes rehabilitation-focused fitness centers represent a promising direction.
“Most importantly, this format is essential because there are very few private training sites with qualified medical and technical staff. There is nowhere for people to continue rehab after their initial week at a rehab center,” he said.
The concern remains that Russia has not yet established a robust one-day rehabilitation model. This factor often influences the success of rehab, not only for exoskeletons but also for prosthetics.
Regulatory clarity for these services is still evolving, which can be challenging. Yet the concept is seen as highly beneficial, according to Chekh.
Svetlana Pervykh, MDinc medical director, believes that building such educational and recovery centers will help integrate active rehabilitation into standard recovery protocols for various diseases and injuries.
“However, employment poses a challenge. Training rehabilitation specialists with exoskeleton expertise is slow. Establishing the proper staff requires selecting, training, and developing new clinical guidelines and treatment approaches.”
“Still, any step toward improving rehabilitation is a significant help for patients recovering from injuries or surgeries, and for the country’s economy as a whole,” Pervykh concluded.