Ottobock research partnership for walking after paraplegia
21/07/2021
Bionic limbs and orthoses already help people with disabilities lead a more mobile life. Now scientists are building on successes during rehabilitation in the field of robotics: In the same year as the 2021 Paralympic Games in Japan, Ottobock is establishing a lasting affiliation with the Robot Rehabilitation Center in Kobe.
More older people suffer a traumatic brain injury due to falls
19/07/2021
From a minor fall on a bicycle to a serious road traffic accident: The causes of a traumatic brain injury are manifold. About 90 percent of the approximately 270,000 cases per year are classified as mild, ten percent as moderate or severe. Current findings show that traumatic brain injury is increasing in the age group of over-65s.
Janine Kolbig – That's how she rolls
14/07/2021
Living a self-determined life is a matter of the heart for Janine Kolbig. She is the founder of the Centre for Self-Determined Living Northern Germany, which advises people with disabilities and represents their interests. What self-determination means to her, who the origin of this movement is for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Sustainable decubitus therapy mattress by Funke Medical
14/07/2021
Funke Medical AG launched its first climate- and environmentally-friendly decubitus therapy mattress for the homecare sector on July 2, 2021. With this medical device, which is available on prescription, Funke Medical AG is expanding its existing series GREENLINE.
An app to help assess the severity of symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome
12/07/2021
Chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a disabling disease, in which people have great difficulties in carrying out their daily activities. Despite its high prevalence, there are still no effective tools for its diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.
Spinal Cord Injury: More than half of wheelchair users needs repairs in past 6 months
12/07/2021
Among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury 42 percent reported adverse consequences related to needing wheelchair repair. The research team determined that this ongoing problem requires action such as higher standards of wheelchair performance, access to faster repair service, and enhanced user training on wheelchair maintenance and repair.
AI improves speech understanding of hearing aid users
05/07/2021
In noisy environments, it is difficult for hearing aid or hearing implant users to understand their conversational partner because current audio processors still have difficulty focusing on specific sound sources. In a feasibility study, researchers from the Hearing Research Laboratory at the University of Bern are now suggesting that artificial intelligence could solve this problem.
Hearing impairment: A contact lens for the ear
05/07/2021
To help improve the quality of life of people with hearing impairment, Mannheim start-up Vibrosonic have developed a new, innovative hearing aid with an integrated loudspeaker that sits directly on the eardrum. This hearing contact lens® is not an implant, and the sound quality it delivers outperforms other hearing systems currently on the market.
Jesi Stracham – That's how she rolls
30/06/2021
Jesi Stracham is a wheelchair user and has no problem with it: Over the years, she has learned to accept herself as she is and to detach herself from societal expectations – she no longer wants to have any labels put on her. How she has achieved this mindset, why every day is a good day for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Wish fulfilled: New 4Front wheelchair from Quantum
30/06/2021
Consumers, ATPs and clinicians asked for some improvements to the 4Front® and Quantum Rehab listened. So they launched the 4Front 2 with the new Smart Traction Control (STC), which, along with Smooth Ride Suspension (SRS), provides stability for smooth obstacle transitions and unmatched driving performance.
Service dogs: priceless four-legged helpers
29/06/2021
REHACARE.com spoke with two dog training centers and learned how much people with disabilities benefit from a canine companion in everyday life and discovered the type of training assistance dogs complete before they are matched with a person.
BraunAbility and Q’STRAINT announce transformative mobility venture
21/06/2021
Complementary companies come together to accelerate innovation in wheelchair-accessible transportation technology for the disability community.
Tobi Kroll – That's how he rolls
16/06/2021
How can we arrive in an inclusive world? Tobi Kroll has a few suggestions, because he is always thinking about barriers – both structural and social. But he also has some ideas about how society can accommodate people with disabilities. Who he would like to discuss our society with and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
The future belongs to e-mobility
16/06/2021
The future belongs to e-mobility. New to the fleet of converted vehicles at PARAVAN GmbH are therefore the Ford Tourneo Custom and the Peugeot Traveller, two vehicles that are available on the market as electric cars and plug-in hybrids respectively.
Better swallowing and understanding: Sophisticated aids from the field of speech therapy
15/06/2021
Some aids may play a minor role in life, but they make everyday life much easier. These include products from iuvas medical: on the one hand, the transparent mask miama, which makes communication in the pandemic clearer. On the other hand, the sippa drinking aid, in which the contents are kept constantly at the top by a membrane so that people with dysphagia can swallow more easily.
Make-A-Wish: teen receives Quantum power wheelchair
14/06/2021
Quantum Rehab recently donated a Stretto Power Chair to 17 year old Austyn Martin as part of his wish from the Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas chapter. The new wheelchair not only features iLevel technology but also a special detail from Aston Martin.
Corporate social responsibility: diversity is an asset
31/05/2021
Accessibility, participation, and inclusion are buzzwords associated with people with disabilities. The notion that we should focus on people’s abilities, not their disabilities is a lesson that is not yet fully understood by most - especially when it comes to labor force participation. We took a closer look at the role companies and their social responsibility play in spurring social changes.
Rita Ebel – That's how she rolls
19/05/2021
Rita Ebel has become known as the "Lego granny": Since accessibility is still a scarce commodity, she designs ramps made of interlocking plastic bricks. Boxes of the colourful bricks are stored in her house and are transformed into ramps with creative patterns. Why she herself is dependent on accessibility, why she never loses her smile and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Computer-aided communication: assistive technology promotes participation
29/04/2021
Whether it is voice recognition with or without eye tracking technology, educational or speech recognition software – assistive technology builds bridges that allow people to get in touch with their surroundings.
Assistive devices in the workplace: Making communication accessible
26/04/2021
Especially for blind and visually impaired people, the lack of or non-working augmentative communication devices frequently means that they have no prospect of participating in the workplace. We discussed with Bruno Behrendt from Papenmeier why screen readers are sometimes nothing more than pretty tools and learned why technical support is THE perennial issue when it comes to customer service.
Building bridges - communication software in focus
26/04/2021
Communication is an important cornerstone for social participation. It is therefore all the more important that the communication aids that are available are adapted to the people who need them. In our Topic of the Month, you can find out who is responsible for this and what difficulties still exist today, but also what is encouraging.
Head support system HeadUp Collar: Communication at eye level
22/04/2021
Head support systems for ALS patients are often not sophisticated and resemble neck braces. The University of Sheffield developed the HeadUp Collar, which can be individually adapted to the needs of the patient. REHACARE.com asked Anita Ogale, Product Manager at ProWalk, what makes the new head support system so special.
Sporty and flexible biking – with the new TRETS from HASE BIKES
04/03/2021
On your bike, get set, go – the new TRETS from HASE BIKES makes this possible for children with neuromuscular disease. And the best thing about it? Since it has a medical aid registration number, German health insurance companies pay for or contribute to the purchase of the trike. REHACARE.com asked Dario Valenti to find out what makes TRETS unique and why working for HASE BIKES is so special.
Incontinence and stoma: assistive devices for a carefree life
02/03/2021
The reasons for living with incontinence or a stoma are as varied as the people affected themselves. Manufacturers of assistive devices are therefore particularly concerned that their products fit the users as well as possible. And they are also there to advise and support their customers. We will show you the variety of products and advice offers.
Incontinence: Effective management with the right aid and consultation service
02/03/2021
Incontinence comes with a list of misconceptions. Yet it is quite common and should not be a taboo subject. Incontinence affects many people: besides older adults, this includes pregnant women, people who are paralyzed or children. How do you manage incontinence and self-catheterization if you are affected and what are available product options and consultation services?
Strategies for optimal bowel management with stoma or TAI
02/03/2021
A variety of solutions can help when the intestines don’t work properly: a stoma is an artificial opening designed to treat disease, relieve symptoms and make life easier. Transanal irrigation (TAI) is another well-documented technique that helps remediate fecal incontinence and constipation. Medical device manufacturers and home care experts help find the best solution to every problem.
Jörg Dommershausen – That's how he rolls
24/02/2021
Jörg Dommershausen takes comprehensive care of his clients: He helps those affected to cope with changed circumstances in their professional and private lives after serious accidents. In addition to his counselling services, Dommershausen also produces two (German) podcasts and a guide. What is indispensable for his work with his clients and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Sensor glasses: Move the wheelchair independently with your eyes
16/02/2021
The eyes play an important role in everyday communication, for example in recognising facial expressions. But for people with severely limited mobility, the eye makes much more possible: Equipped with the MyEcc Pupil, they can move their power wheelchair or a robotic arm independently. How do the glasses make all this possible? REHACARE.com asked Managing Director Thomas Rosner.
Lily Rice – That's how she rolls
10/02/2021
Lily Rice can usually be found at the skatepark, refining her WCMX techniques in her pink wheelchair. The training is paying off: Lily entered the scene in 2017, two years later she was Women's World Champion. It was only logical that her biggest challenge to date was in the halfpipe – what it was, who motivates her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Myd'l: Diverse, innovative and individual – ramps for all occasions
28/01/2021
Shopping – especially in city centers – can quickly turn from pleasure to frustration. Namely, when stores are only accessible via one or more steps. The French company Myd'l has a solution ready for every barrier in terms of accessibility – whether private or business. Successfully active in international business for 22 years, the manufacturer now also offers its products in Germany.
Lilli Zeifert – That's how she rolls
27/01/2021
Lilli Zeifert has already seen a lot of the world. Perhaps that's why her great love is for what there is still to discover beyond the Earth: Whatever there is to find out about astrophysics – Lilli wants to know. Who she thinks are the smartest minds of all time, what she would like to discuss with them and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Ambient Assisted Living: Smart technology for self-determined living
14/01/2021
Opening the front door by voice or having a 3D camera under the ceiling that precisely detects falls and calls for help? There are no limits to the possibilities of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). We show you which smart technical systems are now hidden behind this term and how they can contribute to more self-determination for people with disabilities.
More self-determination thanks to smart technologies
14/01/2021
Everyone wants to live a self-determined life, but it isn’t always easy to implement – especially if you are an older adult or live with a disability. Fortunately, there are systems that help promote autonomy and independence in your own home. Size doesn’t always matter as even little smart helpers can give users peace of mind and a feeling of security as they navigate everyday life.
Functionality meets design: the new adaptive sport equipment Spike
29/10/2020
Activities aiming at occupational therapy and rehabilitation are boring? Not necessarily! A new assistive exercise and sports equipment named Spike is not only designed to be fun, but also suitable for everybody who wants to get and stay fit. How this works for whom and what kind of history connects Spike with REHACARE? We asked!
Pro Walk: Overcoming foot drop one step at a time
24/09/2020
Safe walking without tripping or falling is challenging for people with foot drop. Luckily there are technologies that provide active support by using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Pro Walk GmbH delivers these types of foot drop systems. How do these devices allow users to complete everyday tasks? REHACARE.com asked Nico Riedl, Product Manager and Physiotherapist at Pro Walk GmbH.
Transfer boards by meinHOLTZ: "Assistive devices can be practical, modern and stylish at the same time"
28/02/2020
Is it a skateboard with no wheels? No, it’s a transfer board made by meinHOLTZ! These modern boards help people who use wheelchairs to easily move from one surface to another on their own. Not only does this make transfers easy, but the assistive devices also look stylish and sophisticated.
WheelAir: No more overheating for wheelchair users
30/01/2020
Overheating is a serious issue for people who use a wheelchair. Ice packs and water sprays used to help many of them in order to keep cool. But Corien Staels, Founder & Managing Director of WheelAir, wanted to find a technological solution for the problem of overheating. Since then the WheelAir concept is about to change lives.
Standing Ovation facilitates mobility at the workplace
12/12/2019
Sitting while standing up – Standing Ovation makes this oxymoron possible. The rail system with its C-shaped seat bar and seat lifting unit allows Austrian chef Peter Lammer to sustain his job despite an 80 percent disability rating pertaining to his legs. With REHACARE.com he talked about the invention that brought back his zest for life and the feedback he received at this year's trade fair.
Mobility: Overcoming barriers with Wheelblades
28/11/2019
Whether they are on vacation in the mountains or brave winter weather at home – people with mobility impairments want to take precautions to arrive safely at their destination. Patrick Mayer is personally affected by disability and developed two products that enable wheelchair and walking aid users to master these situations: Wheelblades and the SafetyFoot.
Adaptive eating utensils with a Twist: How Bravo Twist by ProWalk outsmarts Parkinson’s tremors
17/10/2019
We all know that food intake is essential for the survival of every living organism. Yet for humans, food can also be a great source of pleasure or even love. At any rate, it is an important part of our social life. But what happens if our own body throws a monkey wrench into our food intake by having a stroke or neurological disorder?
"Assistive devices help to actively join the meal"
22/08/2019
There are various different kinds of auxiliary means at REHACARE. And the drinking and eating aids are definitely among the popular ones. With its assistive devices the company Assistive Innovations bv from the Netherlands wants to help people with different disabilities to become more independent with eating. CEO Arthur Blom tells REHACARE.com more about classic and new products.
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
"ichó brings people with and without dementia together and provides a way to share stories, experiences, and impressions."
22/04/2018
Like the golden sphere in the fairy tale of the Frog King, ichó (Greek for echo) is meant to bring back lost motor skills and cognitive functions to people with dementia. The project of four former graduates of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences aims to offer individual support through a person’s favorite music or fairy tale.
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.
HelpCamps: "Making assistive technology faster, more affordable and personalized"
23/11/2017
In accordance with the slogan "Nothing about us without us", the HelpCamps project aims at developing and implementing concepts and ideas together. To make this a reality, people with disabilities, companies from the assistive technology, care and assistance sectors, as well as stakeholders in the so-called maker movement and researchers, are brought together to network during various events.
"Long cane for children is a 'facilitator'– the chance to independently accomplish something"
17/08/2017
The long cane offers the possibility to be independent and effectively mobile as a person with visual impairment. Children in particular could get used to him in a playful way. The association "Anderes sehen e.V." has co-developed the children's long cane. REHACARE.com spoke to Ellen Schweizer, the founder of the association, about the fact that inclusion is not a burden, but can bring joy.
"Inclusive communication design is both accessible and attractive"
15/06/2017
For many, recognizing and understanding characters is an important prerequisite to social participation. Inclusive communication design helps people with visual impairments to accomplish this. REHACARE.com spoke with designer and expert of the German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People, Florian Adler. He has developed a digital guide to inclusive communication design.
"Horse riding is a sport people with and without impairments are able to experience together on equal footing"
20/04/2017
More self-confidence and independence – things you can learn from horse riding for example. People with disabilities can take this important step with "Rolli auf Trab" (English: Trotting with Wheelchairs). REHACARE.com spoke with Sandra Glöckler of "Rolli auf Trab" about the lust for life that horse riding inspires and the interaction and experiences with the animals.
Will software automatically describe movie plots in the near future?
18/07/2016
In order to understand the plot of a movie an audio version is very helpful for visually impaired people. Authors watch the whole movies and describe what happens in each scene. But wouldn’t it be possible for a computer software to do this kind of work? Researchers work on developing a program which automatically generates movie descriptions and reads them out.
Blessing or curse? Using robots in the healthcare sector
21/06/2016
In the distant future? – But today already a reality: robot caregivers are designed to make the daily tasks of healthcare workers easier. Today these types of helpers are already being used in Japan. They lift people in need of care out of their beds, play cards with them or cuddle with dementia patients.
"Ability4Refugees platform wants to provide auxiliary means for refugees with disabilities"
24/05/2016
Many people who had to leave their home country traveled in a wheelchair or used crutches. The stress of this escape was at times even more exhausting and taxing for some than for others. REHACARE.com spoke with Sigrid Arnade (ISL e.V.) and Eva-Maria and Andreas Mohn (Andreas Mohn Foundation) about the Ability4Refugees platform that aims to improve the availability of auxiliary means for refugees.
"The robot facilitates and promotes the connection between children"
15/12/2015
A robot that provides a link between hospital and classroom? The project Avatar Kids makes this possible: acutely ill children are able to actively participate in school activities with the help of a tablet computer. The teacher facilitates the communication. REHACARE.com spoke with Philipp Mahler of Avatar Kids about the opportunities this project provides.
"Safe mobility starts with the right choice and adaptation of the wheelchair"
23/07/2015
Whether it’s a wheelchair or a walker – for people with disabilities, it is crucial to control their own mobility in a competent and safe manner. Yet not everyone truly feels confident in every situation with these assistive devices. That’s why REHACARE.com spoke with Nicole Seifert about ways to foster more trust in yourself and others.