Discover our latest articles and interviews:
REHACARE 2024: Symposium on international cooperation for inclusion
On 26.09.2024, a symposium on the Global Disability Summit 2025, organized by BAG SELBSTHILFE and the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, will take place as part of REHACARE in Düsseldorf. The aim of the conference is to strengthen and deepen international cooperation to promote the rights of people with disabilities.
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Innovative assistive devices from rahm at REHACARE 2024
For decades, rahm GmbH has been committed to enabling people to be more mobile and independent. At REHACARE 2024, the experts from rahm will be offering tailor-made solutions in the fields of prosthetics, mobility aids and pediatrics. Visitors to the trade fair will have the opportunity to get to know some of the most innovative technologies and experience them up close.
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AlterG NEO: Lifeward's newest addition to the AlterG Anti-Gravity product line
The AlterG NEO combines updated user-friendly design with trusted Anti-Gravity technology for precise and consistent unweighting in physical rehabilitation and athletic training. Updated features and a cost-effective price point make the core AlterG technology accessible for a broader range of clinics and training facilities.
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2024 Paralympics: Ottobock digitalizes technical service
With digitalized workshop processes and 3D printing technologies, Ottobock is setting an example for the future of technical services at major sporting events. The combination of state-of-the-art technology and experienced specialists ensures optimal support for the athletes and thus contributes to the smooth running of the Paralympic Games.
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Students build exoskeleton for paraplegics
Students at TU Berlin have developed an exoskeleton that enables people with paraplegia to walk and overcome obstacles. Their project, called RISE (Research and Innovation in Student Exoskeleton development), which will be competing in this year's CYBATHLON in October, promises greater mobility and independence.
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Digital transformation without upfront investment: 3D printing as a trailblazer
The orthopaedic industry is changing. 3D printing enables the production of patient-specific products with complex designs and improved properties. Create it REAL, a leading provider of 3D printing solutions, supports companies in their digital transformation and offers innovative services to take advantage of this technology.
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International Long Covid and ME/CFS conference gathers momentum
The fight against Long Covid and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) gains momentum with the #UniteToFight2024 conference. This international, community-driven event, the first of its kind, has already attracted over 3,000 registrations worldwide in just two weeks.
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Gait rehabilitation – learning to walk again with robotics
Dr. Martin Schorl, Head of Neurology at the Waldburg-Zeil Clinic in Bad Wurzach, Germany, describes the new robotics-based therapy offering with the help of the THERA-Trainer lyra as the "gold standard" in gait rehabilitation. The service helps severely affected patients who had a stroke or other damage to the nervous system to learn to walk again.
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Brand evolution in medical technology: Ottobock as a human empowerment brand
The goal of connecting people with disabilities, boosting their visibility and giving them courage has been an integral part of Ottobock’s DNA for more than 100 years. The brand relaunch for the healthtech company based in Lower Saxony builds on this, to be fit for the future in which digital will be a growth driver.
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CUREosity and partners launch pilot project for virtual reality therapy
Since February 1, 2024, the German health insurance company Techniker Krankenkasse has been reimbursing virtual reality therapy (VR therapy) with CUREO® in rehabilitation, making it the first health insurance company in Germany to make this modern therapy method available to its policyholders. The offer is initially aimed at patients of the Ambulanticum, which is the ideal partner for the project.
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Rehabilitation: 6-minute walk test mandatory in Austria from 2024
The 6-minute walk test is one of the standard assessments in rehabilitation in the fields of cardiology as well as pulmonology and has now also found its way into neurology. This easy test becomes even more efficient with stappone sensor soles and generates additional data with little additional effort.
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Is your election campaign accessible? Assess with our checklists
Over 100 million people with disabilities in Europe face challenges in accessing election information through digital channels and events. The European Disability Forum has introduced checklists and scoring systems to help political parties and campaigns enhance accessibility, encouraging self-assessment and learning, with the aim of fostering inclusive communication and events.
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Ottobock and HAWK conclude cooperation agreement
Ottobock and HAWK have signed a cooperation agreement for the Orthobionics study course in order to train specialists for the growing future market. Ottobock is contributing its industry expertise, supporting innovative teaching, promoting practical training and planning an endowed professorship for the course.
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Spanish presidency of the European Council: Expanding voting rights of persons with disabilities
The European Disability Forum welcomes the "Declaration of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council on Expanding Voting Rights of Persons with Disabilities". Six obligations in particular should be emphasized to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities, including promotion of cooperation between the Member States of the European Union.
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Continuous recycling of 3D-printed orthopedic corsets
Create it REAL introduces the TRACKY project founded by the DREAM program. The primary goal of TRACKY is to demonstrate the viability of a circular economy business model centered around orthopedic corsets. The project is started and runs until the end of May 2024.
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135 years of DeVilbiss nebulizer – specialist in respiratory therapy
In 1888, Dr. Allen DeVilbiss developed a "spray syringe" to revolutionize drug delivery in respiratory therapies and founded his own company to manufacture and distribute this nebulizer. Today, 135 years later, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare is the leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of airway and oxygen therapy devices.
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Medicare coverage solidified for ReWalk personal exoskeleton
ReWalk Robotics Ltd. today announced its acceptance to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") for final approval of the Home Health Prospective Payment System Rule CMS-1780 for calendar year 2024. At issue is the inclusion of exoskeletons in the Medicare Brace benefit category.
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Sunrise Medical completes strategic acquisition of Ride Designs
Sunrise Medical has announced the acquisition of Ride Designs, the industry leader in customized seating systems for wheelchair users. This acquisition expands Sunrise Medical's product offering in seating and positioning systems with high-quality customized solutions.
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Designing devices for all – a perspective from the industry and the disability movement
The 2023 edition of the European Accessibility Summit was organised by the European Disability Forum. Several industry representatives and disability rights activists discussed the current opportunities and trends related to accessibility, especially since the adoption of the European Accessibility Act.
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"SUITX by Ottobock" sets new standards in exoskeleton technology
On October 9, 2023, the IX BACK AIR exoskeleton from "SUITX by Ottobock" was introduced for use in the logistics industry, combining the benefits of both rigid and soft systems. The innovation is designed to significantly reduce the workload in logistics and increase efficiency.
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UN report shows very limited progress on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction
The UN released a report on disaster preparedness for people with disabilities, highlighting a lack of progress over the past decade. Key findings show that many individuals with disabilities lack preparedness plans, access to disaster information, and awareness of risk reduction plans, while they also have limited participation in community-level decision-making.
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Enabling an accessible digital work environment
The European Accessibility Summit discussed the importance of creating an inclusive digital work environment for workers with disabilities and promoting digital skills for all. The panel highlighted the challenges faced by people with disabilities in digital inclusion and emphasized the need for accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
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Bidirectional control of prosthetic hands using ultrasonic sensors
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute are developing ultrasonic sensors to control prosthetic hands. The sensors transmit sound pulses into the muscle tissue of the arm and enable the recognition of movement patterns, which are then sent to the prosthesis in real time by an AI-controlled electronic box.
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kidevo: New name for Veldink4kids children's wheelchairs
The children's wheelchairs from Veldink4kids are being given a new name "kidevo" to symbolize their integration into Ottobock and to make it easier for parents to select a suitable wheelchair for their children. There are three models: kidevo prime, kidevo mini and kidevo adapt, each of which can be adapted to different age groups and activity levels of children.
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PARAVAN VW Caddy 5 Maxi: innovative solution with electric side entry
PARAVAN offers a new solution for the VW Caddy 5 Maxi with an electric interior folding ramp that allows customers with disabilities to enter comfortably from the side. The vehicle offers a low entry height, versatile adaptation options for individual needs and was presented at REHACARE 2023.
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