REAplan® is a robotic medical device designed to improve the motor function of patients' upper limbs. REAplan® combines therapy and playing games. For patients of all ages, REAplan® offers various therapeutic games that can be adapted to the clinical picture and progress of each patient. In this way, therapy is continuous and patients are motivated to participate.
During therapy, the patient sits in front of the REAplan® and holds a handle in their hand that can move their arm in a horizontal plane. Intensity, force and speed are adapted to the patient and the requirements beforehand.
To date, Clinique Valmont is the only facility in Switzerland that has the REAplan robot.
REAplan® technology is primarily intended for patients with a traumatic brain injury in neurological rehabilitation. However, it can also be used for patients with other neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
In some cases, especially after shoulder replacement, REAplan® is also recommended for orthopaedic patients.
REAplan® is a flexible system that can be adjusted to the motor impairments of each individual patient. Adjustments can therefore be made to the patient's performance during the course of treatment.
There are three different modes for the therapy:
Active mode
The patient independently guides the handle along the movement sequences specified by the software. The system only intervenes if the patient leaves the path of the movement sequence.
Active-passive mode
The system supports the patient to perform the predefined movement sequence.
Passive mode
This is full assistance. REAplan® performs all movements and moves the patient's limbs along the predefined paths, the movement sequences.
A 43 inch screen provides the patient with immediate and comprehensive audio-visual feedback. A second screen allows the therapists to configure the exercises. The therapist has four apps at their disposal to record and analyse every patient movement. This provides detailed, useful performance information about the progress of the treatment, which helps to plan therapy.
REAplan® works on the principle of brain plasticity, which is crucial for the recovery of motor functions after a stroke.
In a stroke, neurons are irreparably damaged and die, resulting in secondary damage. The remaining neurons have the ability to reorganise and redesign their connections to compensate for the deficits caused by the stroke - this is called brain plasticity.
Intensive repetition of certain movements supports brain plasticity around the lesion. This in turn supports relearning and the restoration of motor functions.
With REAplan®, the patient can perform up to 1,000 movements during a therapy session, which is very intensive compared to conventional occupational therapy.
