Patients maximize their functional recovery at TRAINM through intensive, personalized and interdisciplinary treatment programs by the use of scientifically proven high-tech equipment.
Maximizing patient recoveries by harnessing the power of neuroplasticity
10 principles of neuroplasticity
- Use it or lose it
- Use it and improve it
- Specificity
- Repetition matters
- Intensity matters
- Time matters
- Salience matters
- Age matters
- Transference
- Interference
Research has shown improved functional outcomes, with use of technologies through neuroplasticity:
- Reducing impairments by task specific training and focusing on improving:
- Initiation, smoothness and accuracy of functional movement
- Range of motion
- Stabilization
- Coordination, strength and speed of execution
- Therapeutic exercise games for:
- motor learning
- eye-hand coordination
- attention, visual field deficits / neglect
Improvements reported by patients and therapists:
- “Put on shirt or jacket”
- “Turn on a light switch”
- “Hold a shopping bag”
- “Do household chores”
- “Push to open a door”
- “Pick up a cup of coffee”
- “Pick up a laundry basket”
- “Put a leash on a dog”
- “Get out of the car”
- “Climb stairs”
- “Stand up for the first time holding on to the door knob”
- “Take independent steps”
The science behind TRAINM
Benefits of robotics as add-on tool for therapists
- Evidence-based rehabilitation for the upper and lower extremities
- Reproducible
- Quantifiable
- High-intensity, task-specific therapy (over 1,400 movements per 30min session)
- Significant reduction in impairment of function
- Positive results are long lasting
- Therapy for all levels of impairment severity and types (chronic, subacute, acute)
- High motivational factor
- Recovery achieved through neurospasticity and motor learning
- Efficient assessment, documentation and reporting
Sample plots for a stroke patient at admission and discharge following InMotion robotic therapy:
25 july
7 August
10 OctoberBenefits of non-invasive neuromodulation:
- Safe and non-invasive
- Enhances cortical plasticity
- Beneficial effects on motor function, language, attention and visual recovery as well as cognitive and psychological impairments
- Patients can fo about their daily lives following treatment
- FDA-approved procedure for treatment of severe refractory depression
Scientific Advisors
Dr. Kristiaan Deckers, MD
- Head of physical Medecine and Rehabilitation, GZA Hospital Group
“There is an emerging bulk of evidence that the use of robot-assisted rehabilitation techniques will lead to better results in the restoration and maintenance of function in several fields. Specifically in the field of neuro rehabilitation, more and more studies show the use of robots to yield superior rehabilitation outcomes when compared to more traditional techniques. This is especially true for gait, but also in upper limb function where meta-analyses show encouraging results. It is clear that as rehabilitation science progresses, our understanding of the impact of robot assisted techniques on the all important phenomenon of brain plasticity and motor learning will further increase, thereby leading to even better results for our patients.”
Dr. Tony Van Havenbergh, MD, PhD
- Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery at GZA Hospital Group
“Since a decade there is increasing scientific evidence that magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain can enhance neurological recovery. One of the mechanisms is sensitizing the neural system to training and reconnecting. Therefor it seems logical to combine electrical neuromodulation with intensive training. Studies and my personal experience strongly support this theory. The TRAINM Center will be one of the first institutes where expert electrical neuromodulation combined with cutting edge intensive robotical training will be available for people suffering from a neurological disease. The TRAINM neuromodulation expertise can also be applied in neurological impairment of vision, in dysphasia after stroke, in cognitive decline in traumatic brain injury and in degenerative neurological disorders. TRAINM is a state-of-the-art center where expert neuromodulation is combined with targeted therapy providing the best of both worlds treatment for patients.”
Dr. Bruce T. Volpe, MD
- Researcher, Lab of Biomed Science, The Feinstein Institute
- Professor, Dept of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra LIJ School of Medicine
“We’ve been using interactive robots to deliver a reproducable high-intensity motor stimulation to people who are recovering from stroke and the fact is that the robots work. They improve the outcome of recovery after stroke and now the goal and the progress is to try to add other non-invasive bioelectronic devices to see if we can improve the outcome even after robotics.”
Dr. Dylan Edwards, PhD, PT
- Director, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
- Associate Professor, Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Co-Director, Intensive Course in TMS, Harvard Medical School
“The brain is an electrical organ. What we’re trying to do is develop methods that interfere with brain activity in a targeted way and positively influence it.”
Dr. Gery Colombo, PhD
- Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hocoma AG
- President of the International Industry Society in Advanced Rehabilitation Technology
“Robotics in rehabilitation are vital tools, allowing therapists to support their patients in achieving their highest possible functional outcome and independence. More and more studies show that intensive therapy is crucial to succeed. We are convinced that using robot-assisted training devices allows TRAINM to provide levels of training intensity, which would simply not be possible without technology support. TRAINM therefore provides an opportunity to their patients that is priceless and makes them a cutting edge institution and role model for other centers in the world!.”
Dr. Herman Igo Krebs, PhD
- Principal Research Scientist and Lecturer at the Massachusetts
- Institute of Technology (MIT), Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation
“I believe that the application of robotics to deliver therapy is probably the most important development in rehabilitation. It represents a real opportunity to ameliorate impairment and promote neuro-recovery of a stroke patient after the damage has been done or to promote habilitation of a child with Cerebral palsy. I am really proud and honoured to have been part of the team advising on the creation of TRAINM, offering advanced technology in Belgium for the first time to adult and pediatric patients suffering from neurological injury. It embodies the best of what I suggested in a paper 10-years ago: “Rehabilitation Robotics – Bright Lights, Big Future.”
Patient success stories
“My name is Ilse, I am 53 years old and have had Multiple Sclerosis for 31 years. I came here the moment I heard this existed. The difference until now is that the other treatments only had the effect of stabilization but thanks to the Lokomat I have improved which you don’t expect with MS. I mainly use Lokomat and my spasticity disappeared with 80% after the first go. I could climb stairs too, which really surprised me. Last night I climbed 15 stairs on my own by pulling myself up. But I could climb them on my own, which I hadn’t been able to do for a long time. Something else that is very important to me, with regard to comfort, is being able to turn over in bed again. This is a huge improvement with regard to comfort.”
Ilse, 53 years old
Multiple Sclerosis
Gitte, 22 years old
Cerebral Palsy
“I was born with cerebral palsy and would really like to be able to walk unaided indoors. I set up a crowdfunding campaign and collected 6,000 euros so I could start here. Before I started here when I walked from my bedroom to the bathroom with my frame, I was exhausted. Now I can walk a distance of at least 200 meters without being exhausted.”
From December 2017 to June 2018: walking distance increased 66% (from 671m to 1114m)
“My name is Sem, I came here to TRAINM because I had a brain haemorrhage two years ago. I use the GEO machine to learn to walk. I use a splint still but the movement is correct. I also do hand exercises. When I first came here I couldn’t really do much with my hand. But now I can pick up a rod with my left hand on my own. I hope I will be able to use my left hand and left arm over time and that one day I will be able to walk without a splint.”
From August 2017 to April 2018: ability to draw a circle improved significantly (both in smoothness, speed and correctness).
Sem, 13 years old
Brain Haemorrhage
More technologies than any other rehabilitation clinic in Europe
Motivating Environment
Based in the heart of Antwerp, the TRAINM center is a 1,000 m2, fully-renovated, neoclassical landmark building, designed in 1875 by architect Ferdinand Hompus in a rich decorated style typical for his oeuvre for the Meurisse family, the famous Belgian chocolatier. The building has been fully renovated and fitted with the latest technologies and robotics specifically for TRAINM.
This beautiful setting is combined with music and special lighting to promote motivation and the feeling of well-being for patients as they continue their recovery process.
Would you like to see the possibilities for yourself? Contact us with your questions.
