WEST ORANGE, N.J., May 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kessler Foundation acquired the ZeroG Gait and Balance Training System by Aretech, to advance rehabilitation research for people with disabilities. ZeroG, a robotic body-weight support system mounted in an overhead track, allows individuals to engage in rehabilitative activities safely and independently.
"The ZeroG greatly enhances our ability to conduct research focusing on improving mobility of individuals with various disabilities," said Rodger DeRose, president and chief executive officer of Kessler Foundation. "We're proud to be one of only six centers in the U.S. to use the device exclusively for research. ZeroG complements the technological resources that our scientists are using to help people stand and walk, sometimes for the first time, after a paralyzing injury or stroke. We anticipate that ZeroG will help us explore new ways to help individuals function more independently at home, in the community and in the workplace."
People of various ages, weight and diagnoses can use the ZeroG for many types of functional activities. Participants can safely sit, stand, squat, climb stairs, use an exercise ball and run up to six miles per hour. In ZeroG, they can walk over ground, on a treadmill or in an exoskeleton, without the fear of falling. Via a wireless interface, the device provides real-time data for mobility research, including distance, speed and duration of walking, levels of body-weight support and falls prevented. Activity can be monitored via ZeroG's touchscreen or a mobile phone or tablet.
"We are excited to see Kessler Foundation's scientists apply the capabilities of ZeroG to their research," said Joe Hilder, PhD, CEO of Aretech and inventor of ZeroG. "Because of its partnership with Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Kessler Foundation is uniquely equipped to develop treatments that can quickly and effectively be implemented in clinical care. Incorporating ZeroG will advance our understanding of the impact of new interventions being studied at the Foundation, such as robotic exoskeletons and treadmill training."
Kessler Foundation is using ZeroG Version 2, which is more compact and has a higher weight capacity—a maximum of 400 pounds. Version 2 also provides biofeedback to challenge individuals physically and cognitively. A high-resolution display screen features interactive games and target matching activities such as breaking blocks and bobbing and weaving to avoid objects, which increase motivation and encourage participation.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.
About the ZeroG Gait and Balance Training System
Aretech's patented ZeroG Gait and Balance Training System is listed with the Food and Drug Administration and certified to the highest levels of safety. ZeroG provides patients dynamic or static body-weight support, protects them from falls, and includes interactive balance programs and games. More than 20,000 patients worldwide have used ZeroG in therapy in the top rehabilitation centers. Aretech develops and manufactures ZeroG at company headquarters in Ashburn, VA.
About Aretech
Aretech, based in Ashburn, Virginia, is the world leader in robotic overground body-weight support systems. The company has a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and developing technology based on evidence-based research. Aretech develops and manufactures the ZeroG line of products at company headquarters while continuing to collaborate with physical therapists, physicians and scientists to advance their technologies. Additional information about Aretech can be found at http://www.aretechllc.com.