Rehab Robot Helps Long Island Man Walk Again

A 70-year-old Long Island man is learning to walk again thanks to a special technology at Glen Cove Hospital that is only found at six other hospitals across the country.

Farmingdale resident James Gallagher, a former special education teacher, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which is fluid build-up in the brain. A placement of a shunt helped relieve the pressure on his brain, but he was still left with weakness in both legs, impaired balance and decreased endurance.

“I just couldn’t keep up with the rest of the family. And the worst of it,” Gallagher said, “was that my family felt that I shouldn’t lift my little grandchild.”

Gallagher hopes to hold his grandchild in his arms thanks to time spent working with his physical therapist and the G-EO System robot, a technology that is only offered at seven hospitals nationwide.

G-EO is ideal for patients who have suffered traumatic injuries and require physical therapy to recover. It is the only device that realistically simulates stair climbing and can be operated by one therapist, Glen Cove Hospital says.

The high-volume repetition offered by the G-EO system is crucial in helping a person’s brain to recover from an injury, says Josh Schiller, the key account manager of the Northeast Region for Reha Technology, the manufacturer of the G-EO System.

“Just like an athlete trains for their individual sport through repeated practice to perfect a skill, a patient recovering from a neurological disorder can benefit from massed practice, or high-volume repetition, based on the principle of neuroplasticity – the process your brain uses to rewire itself and heal from injury,” Schiller said in a press release. “With that being said, The G-EO System supports the therapists by helping them obtain high amounts of repetition and intensity in a reliable, safe and motivating environment with the ability to make adjustments and get important feedback in real time.”

Gallagher was released from Glen Cove Hospital on Thursday, Feb. 9 after three weeks of treatment. He worked with G-EO three times a week during his therapy sessions.

“I truly believe that G-EO is a great tool that helps me work with my patients to get them home as soon as possible,” Physical therapist Dianne Leone, who worked with Mr. Gallagher during his many rehab sessions, said. “I can direct the robot to speed up the patient’s gait or to slow it down; in other words, to adjust to each patient’s level of impairment. By having this ability and working with G-EO, we are able to maximize the patient’s strength, endurance and recovery … just like we’ve done with Mr. Gallagher.”

Prior to heading home, Gallagher demonstrated the improvements in his mobility while working on G-EO. While on his journey to recovery, he hopes this advanced technology will allow him to hold his grandchild once again.

Image via Northwell Health