NextStep Robotics

DITCH THE “CRUTCH”

THE PROBLEM

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. One of the critical risk factors that contribute to these injuries, especially in older adults with underlying comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, is a condition known as foot drop, which is an inability to raise the foot during activities of daily life such as walking. This causes the toes to drag on the ground, which significantly increases the chances of falling. Not surprisingly, nearly 70% of stroke survivors suffer falls-related fractures in the first year alone.

5,000,000
stroke survivors

800,000
new strokes per year

30%
suffer from foot drop

THE PROBLEM

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. One of the critical risk factors that contribute to these injuries, especially in older adults with underlying comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, is a condition known as foot drop, which is an inability to raise the foot during activities of daily life such as walking. This causes the toes to drag on the ground, which significantly increases the chances of falling. Not surprisingly, nearly 70% of stroke survivors suffer falls-related fractures in the first year alone.

5,000,000
stroke survivors

800,000
new strokes per year

30%
suffer from foot drop

THE PROBLEM

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. One of the critical risk factors that contribute to these injuries, especially in older adults with underlying comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, is a condition known as foot drop, which is an inability to raise the foot during activities of daily life such as walking. This causes the toes to drag on the ground, which significantly increases the chances of falling. Not surprisingly, nearly 70% of stroke survivors suffer falls-related fractures in the first year alone.

5,000,000
stroke survivors

800,000
new strokes per year

30%
suffer from foot drop

THE SOLUTION

For years, the only solution to mitigate foot drop were rigid leg braces with shoe inserts, called ankle-foot orthotics, combined with intense physical therapy. NextStep Robotics has created a cutting-edge solution by developing a portable ankle robot (AMBLE) to alleviate and in some cases, treat foot drop. Combined with state-of-art software embedding intelligent algorithms, this is the first-ever clinically proven option to durably reduce the devastating impacts of foot drop, by providing safe and gentle assistance for each step. Our device is designed for use under supervision of physical therapists in rehabilitation settings. This novel robotic device leverages neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to relearn new tasks with practice, to positively affect not just the impaired ankle but also over time, normalize the patients’ gait patterns. This increases their active participation at home and in community settings towards a better quality of life.

THE SOLUTION

For years, the only solution to mitigate foot drop were rigid leg braces with shoe inserts, called ankle-foot orthotics, combined with intense physical therapy. NextStep Robotics has created a cutting-edge solution by developing a portable ankle robot (AMBLE) to alleviate and in some cases, treat foot drop. Combined with state-of-art software embedding intelligent algorithms, this is the first-ever clinically proven option to durably reduce the devastating impacts of foot drop, by providing safe and gentle assistance for each step. Our device is designed for use under supervision of physical therapists in rehabilitation settings. This novel robotic device leverages neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to relearn new tasks with practice, to positively affect not just the impaired ankle but also over time, normalize the patients’ gait patterns. This increases their active participation at home and in community settings towards a better quality of life.

OUR PURPOSE

NextStep Robotics has a clear purpose, which is to combine robotics and information technology to prevent falls and falls-related injuries that are due to foot drop. Our purpose is achieved by improving voluntary control of the affected ankle. Our signature device, the AMBLE, is designed to provide step-by-step graded assistance that over time, is progressively reduced as the patient’s foot drop severity improves. Unlike substitutive devices like prostheses, our device is intended to alleviate the workload of physical therapists while maximizing mobility outcomes for patients with foot drop.

For Providers and Patients

NextStep Robotics’ groundbreaking device is designed to durably improve ankle function and restore mobility in patients recovering from a disabling brain injuries such as stroke or Multiple Sclerosis. Further, the device’s quick don-doff times and ease of use of reduces the workload on physical therapists and care providers, enabling them to spend more time on interaction with patients and less time on device management.

For Providers and Patients

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. One of the critical risk factors that contribute to these injuries, especially in older adults with underlying comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, is a condition known as foot drop, which is an inability to raise the foot during activities of daily life such as walking. This causes the toes to drag on the ground, which significantly increases the chances of falling. Not surprisingly, nearly 70% of stroke survivors suffer falls-related fractures in the first year alone.

For Providers and Patients

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year. One of the critical risk factors that contribute to these injuries, especially in older adults with underlying comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, is a condition known as foot drop, which is an inability to raise the foot during activities of daily life such as walking. This causes the toes to drag on the ground, which significantly increases the chances of falling. Not surprisingly, nearly 70% of stroke survivors suffer falls-related fractures in the first year alone.

NextStep Robotics

DITCH THE “CRUTCH”