Royal Rehab, a non-profit provider of rehabilitation and disability support services, has opened a new state-of-the-art technology center to improve rehabilitation outcomes for people affected by life-changing illnesses and/or injuries.
The Royal Rehab LifeWorks, a purpose-built hub, also caters to people with disabilities by providing expert support and access to technologies aimed at improving function, strength and well-being.
The center is home to more than 25 pieces of cutting-edge technology, including the C-MILL VR+ device.
The C-Mill VR+ technology combines a treadmill with body weight support and virtual and augmented reality to improve balance, gait and gait adaptability in a controlled environment. The device provides a safe and comfortable training environment that mimics real life challenges and helps users navigate situations such as walking in crowded areas and avoiding obstacles.
The center is also home to a Zero G Gait and Balance System, which has the longest hiking trail in the country. This device is a robotic body weight support designed to help people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, neurological disorders and degenerative disorders to walk. The device enables fall prevention training to minimize patient risk so they can focus on regaining confidence in walking, balancing, climbing stairs and maneuvering from seated to standing positions.
Matt Mackay, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Rehab, said: “We know that using technology in conjunction with traditional therapies has the potential to deliver better outcomes. This will revolutionize the rehabilitation pathway for many patients, which in turn can lead to dramatic changes in a person’s quality of life.
“…we want to give people with long-term disabilities access to these technologies so that they too can benefit from improved strength and fitness, and maintain or even improve their functional independence,” he said.
Royal Rehab LifeWorks therapists have undergone extensive training to operate all 25 new devices that will be used in personalized rehabilitation programs.
Jason Redhead, senior physiotherapist and technology leader at Royal Rehab LifeWorks, said: “We’ve seen advanced technology start to play a leading role in rehabilitation programs in many other countries. We want to ensure that Australians also have access to the best technology, such as robotic exoskeletons, body weight support systems, upper limb robotics and virtual reality technologies. It means we will see more patients achieve more in their rehabilitation goals.”
The opening of Royal Rehab LifeWorks’ Advanced Technology Center reaffirms its commitment to be a center of excellence empowering people to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.
“We hope the center will give people with disabilities and life-changing illnesses and injuries a new sense of independence and freedom,” Mackay said.
Royal Rehab’s Advanced Technology Center is located at the Ryde site and opened its doors on July 1. Access to the center is covered by a range of financing options, including NDIS, iCare and self-financing.