Interviews from our eMag

Image: A man in a hospital bed using THERA-Trainer bemo; Copyright: THERA-Trainer by medica Medizintechnik GmbH

THERA-Trainer: Complete solution for gait rehabilitation

The goal of THERA-Trainer by medica Medizintechnik GmbH is to make it easy for people with restricted mobility to regain their lost mobility. That is why the family company has designed professional therapeutic products and robotic assisted complete solutions for all phases of lower extremity rehabilitation.

Image: The new Genny model is shrouded by a dark cloth. Only the silhouette shines through slightly; Copyright: Genny Mobility

Genny’s self-balancing and two wheeled wheelchair gets an upgrade – revealed at REHACARE 2022

Inspired by the self-balancing Segway, Genny Mobility developed a wheelchair equivalent. What started as a newbie on the mobility aids market, now is ready for its third generation. The new wheelchair will be revealed in two weeks at this year’s REHACARE. Francesca Belotti allows for a little glimpse into what we can expect.

Photo: Two professionals are giving advice about pediatric auxiliary aids at REHACARE; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

Status quo of the pediatric auxiliary aids and services supply: challenges, successes, and ideas

As children grow up and develop, their needs keep changing. If the response to their special needs for auxiliary aids and services isn’t quick and competent, it creates problems that could have been avoided at a systemic level, says Christiana Hennemann. rehaKINDis committed to improving the situation and giving constructive feedback to policymakers, the public and other important stakeholders.

Photo: A person wearing the Exopulse Mollii Suit hugs another person grinning broadly; Copyright: Ottobock

Spasticity Management: The New Exopulse Mollii Suit

Reduces spasticity, relieves pain, improves mobility: The Exopulse Mollii Suit is the world’s first neuromodulation suit that enables people with neurological conditions to enjoy a more active daily lifestyle. Daniel Hublitz knows how the suit works and who can benefit from it. He knows about the demands and requirements the new assistive medical device must meet.

Photo: A sled running on rails in a hall with a dummy sitting on it; Copyright: AMF-Bruns Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Research and development: crash tests ensure safe design standards

When it comes to mobility, safety requirements take top priority. To drive research and development in this specific area, the company newly founded a research and development company, which operates separately from the successful car conversion entity. Its competence center for mobile safety opened its doors in 2021 in Apen, Germany.

Photo: Woman sitting on a Mobili Kit from Benoit Systemes; Copyright: Benoit Systemes

Mobile, more mobile, Mobili Kit: For more mobility into the narrowest corner

When mobility declines, the step up to a wheelchair can be very costly, both emotionally and organizationally. Benoit Systemes has found a solution here: With the Mobili Kit, you can still make a U-turn in even the smallest hallway – and in your own favorite chair. Tanya Veraksa told us about the advantages of the Mobili Kit and the story behind Benoit Systemes.

Photo: blue electric vehicle in the forest, a robot arm comes out from the back and holds a wheelchair next to the driver's door; Copyright: F. Sodermanns Automobile GmbH

Mobility experience: sustainability meets state-of-the-art technology to support people with disabilities

To benefit people with disabilities, it takes more than a standard model to plug into the future. F. Sodermanns Automobile GmbH collaborated with Electric Vehicle manufacturer e.GO Mobile SE to create this type of sustainable vehicle. REHACARE.com asked managing director and founder Frank Sodermanns what prompted the collaboration and learned about the little speedster’s countless possibilities.

Photo: A wheelchair with the trivida® wheel, a part of the wheel leans in front of the wheelchair; Copyright: trivida®

Reinventing the wheelchair wheel: greater independence with trivida®

Nobody expects the reinvention of the wheel and yet that is exactly what P+L Innovations GmbH has accomplished. In this REHACARE.com interview, the company’s managing director, Dr. Christine Pflaumbaum, tells us what makes trivida® so unique, explains the benefits of a detachable wheelchair wheel and gives us insights into the development process.

Photo: a woman in a wheelchair entering a treadmill; Copyright: ezyGain S.A.S.

One step at a time – With ema, the smart treadmill for gait rehabilitation

The overall goal of rehabilitation is to – literally – get patients (back) on their feet and provide professionally guided training to regain mobility and strength. However, some people find walking on a treadmill boring after a while.

Photo: Two women wear transparent masks so that all their facial expressions can be seen and communication is made easier for people with a hearing impairment; Copyright: iuvas medical GmbH

Better swallowing and understanding: Sophisticated aids from the field of speech therapy

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.

Photo: a black head support system on a mannequin; Copyright: Sheffield Hallam Universität

Head support system HeadUp Collar: Communication at eye level

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.

Photo: A girl using the PR 35 S wheelchair; Copyright: PARAVAN

Height-adjustable, versatile and adaptive – wheelchairs for kids

A wheelchair should fit your needs and support your life wherever it may take you. In theory, you can find the perfect model from many available options. But for one group of people, the choices are more limited – children. Meanwhile, they are the ones in dire need of assistive technology that helps them play with their friends and fosters their independence.

Photo: Employee with crutches in the entrance area of the company headquarters/office building; Copyright: Andi Weiland | Boehringer Ingelheim, Gesellschaftsbilder.de

Labor force participation of people with disabilities in the time of Coronavirus – opportunities and stumbling blocks

Not many of us are lucky enough to find our dream job and stay in it until the day we retire. Sometimes this might be due to health and medical reasons, which could necessitate occupational rehabilitation. If people have a severe disability, Germany’s Federal Integration Offices, or Inclusion Offices along with the pension insurance providers are the responsible authorities.

Photo: a man is sitting in a power wheelchair, he is wearing glasses; Copyright: HomeBraceGermany UG

Sensor glasses: Move the wheelchair independently with your eyes

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.

Photo: Close-up of a wheelchair user in front of a Myd'l ramp; Copyright: Myd'l

Myd'l: Diverse, innovative and individual – ramps for all occasions

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.

Photo collage: The turkish wheelchair basketball players Cem Gezinci, Ozgur Gurbulak and the tennis player Ugur Altinel; Copyright: ExtraWheelchairs

Crisis-proof: moso navigates confidently through the coronavirus pandemic

Years of business expertise, in-house production, and new personnel competency – the Motion Solutions GmbH is well-positioned to withstand the challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic and continues to offer its customers the best service. CEO Gierse discusses the role products like the COSEAT and EasyStand play in this setting and reveals the expectations the moso team has for the future.

Photo collage: Girl with WalkAide 2.0 goes for a walk with a dog. Boy with WalkAide walks on a path. Man with NeuGait walks down stairs; Copyright: Brio Photography / Pro Walk GmbH

Pro Walk: Overcoming foot drop one step at a time

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.

Photo: Business woman sitting at a laptop and taking handwritten notes; Copyright: PantherMedia/mavoimages

REHADAT Gute Praxis: "Labor force participation requires targeted and personalized measures"

What are strategies for successful inclusion in the primary labor market? Many employers only have a vague idea of what this entails, revealing the importance of comprehensive and practical information. The new REHADAT Gute Praxis (English: Best Practice) portal aims to be their go-to resource – and includes 900 practical examples. Why are they especially useful? We asked...

Photo: Mela Ikanovic and a ReWalker at the trade fair booth of ReWalk Robotics; Copyright: ReWalk Robotics

ReWalk Robotics: Optimal supply thanks to the latest robotic technology

Rehabilitation and robotics increasingly go hand in hand. That’s why it is crucial to ensure the quality of robotic rehabilitation at any level. How important is it for companies like ReWalk Robotics to have the support of health insurance companies? REHACARE.com asked and also learned about the company’s future hopes for the industry.

Photo: Man uses the Neofect Smart Glove for playful digital exercises at home; Copyright: Neofect

Neofect: "Digitization enabled us to gamify rehabilitation"

Light, individual and motivating: The portable therapy devices by Neofect aim to facilitate modern hand, arm and shoulder rehabilitation for rehab facilities and homecare use. We asked Scott Kim, CEO and co-founder of Neofect, to what extend gamification and digitization are advantages for the rehabilitation sector.

Photo: Two wheelchair users with wheelchairs that have integrated the WheelAir system; Copyright: WheelAir

WheelAir: No more overheating for wheelchair users

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.

Photo: Patrick Mayer in the German TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" (English: "Shark Tank"); Copyright: VOX / TVNOW / Frank W. Hempel

Mobility: Overcoming barriers with Wheelblades

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.

Photo: Sensory insole by novapace lying in front of a tablet on a table; Copyright: novapace

Parkinson's disease: Greater gait stability thanks to smart insoles

Gentle vibrations delivered to feet alert users to dangerous situations as they walk and prompt a more normalized gait pattern. That’s the concept behind the sensory orthotic insoles by novapace. In this interview, Simon Staffa, project manager at novapace, explains how this technology can help people with Parkinson's disease and describes the opportunities digitization brings to rehabilitation.

Photo: Georg Teufl during rehabilitation process with a stroke patient using virtual reality glasses; Copyright: Rewellio GmbH

Stroke: Digitalization of rehabilitation with Rewellio

Mobile devices like tablets can help people with rehabilitation after a stroke – like with an app or virtual reality. Rewellio starts right here and wants to make therapy easier both for the patients and the physiotherapists. REHACARE.com talked to Georg Teufl, founder and CEO of Rewellio GmbH, about the advantages of his product and digitalization in general.

Photo: Older lady sitting on a chair in front of a screen showing a motorcyclist on the motorway. Other residents cheer her on; Copyright: RetroBrain R&D

MemoreBox by RetroBrain: Where rehabilitation meets fun

Doing something good for your health in a playful and fun way – that sums up the concept of health games. "It does not have to be grueling, boring and dreadful to maintain or regain your health," says Manouchehr Shamsrizi. He co-founded RetroBrain and developed the MemoreBox – an easy-to-use gaming console for aging adults, designed to keep them physically and mentally healthy and fit.

Image: An elderly woman is grocery shopping with her Wheeleo®.; Copyright: Wheeleo®

Wheeleo®: the walking aid for stability and autonomy

The new generation walking aid companion? The Wheeleo® feels like a never-ending guardrail and accompanies you everywhere you go. With its one-handed design it helps regain autonomy while supporting movement in everyday situations. For example, it enables grocery shopping, opening doors and walking the dog. It also reduces the risk of falling, is easy to transport and has an elegant design.

Image: A man in the ergoflix LX foldable electric wheelchair sits outside with a woman and a picnic basket; Copyright: ergoflix

Folding electric wheelchairs by ergoflix: adding more joy to life with the right mobility solution

Autonomy instead of dependency, social inclusion instead of social isolation – that's the motto of ergoflix. Leveraging high levels of motivation and conviction, the medical equipment manufacturer is committed to making it easier to access smart and aesthetic mobility equipment. The company developed a series of foldable electric wheelchair models that promote an active and flexible lifestyle.

Image: A man sits in an iBOT electric wheelchair and rides through dunes; Copyright: 2KERR

IBOT electric wheelchair: go wherever you want – physically and socially

The iBOT is a multifunctional personal mobility device that allows users to achieve things that were previously impossible. With twenty years of advanced technology combined into one device with six different modes, users can go wherever they want. And wherever they are, the iBOT electric wheelchair makes participation possible.

Image: Double-sided and standard-compliant wall handrail in a residential complex; Copyright: Flexo-Handlaufsysteme GmbH

Tangible safety: self-determination thanks to Flexo handrail systems

Code-compliant handrail systems provide safety and make stairs accessible and usable for more people. They help reduce fall risk, facilitate more mobility, and allow people to gain access to all rooms. Thanks to its work with older adults and people with disabilities, Flexo-Handlaufsysteme GmbH knows about potential barriers and has made it its mission to promote the self-determination of people.

Image: A man shows how to use a personal lift in three pictures; Copyright: IndeeLift

IndeeLift: Human lifting tools for greater independence

IndeeLift offers human lifting tools that provide greater independence and safety for people with mobility impairment and their caregivers. It is a device that helps caregivers lift, transfer and transport patients in acute, post-acute, long-term and home care environments. At the same time, it can support people who live alone.

Image: A teenage girl laughs while using the ichó therapy ball, which is currently glowing orange; Copyright: icho systems GmbH

ichó: The smart therapy ball for home use

Building communication, strengthening skills, and responding to individual needs – that is the goal of icho systems GmbH. To realize their vision, the team has developed the ichó therapy ball. It brings therapeutic measures and individual support to people's homes and can be used to promote cognition and motor activity.

Image: The soon-to-be-released Revolve Air wheelchair – once in folded and once in unfolded state; Copyright: Andrea Mocellin

Accessible traveling: foldable wheelchair by Revolve Mobility

How can traveling become more accessible and more self-determined for wheelchair users – especially when traveling by plane or taking a cab? This is the question Andrea Mocellin wanted to address when he started inventing Revolve Air. His solution: a wheelchair with foldable wheels and a foldable frame.

Photo: an inclusive sailboat with a man in front and a woman behind. The woman is missing her arms and steers with her feet; Copyright: Andrea Francolini-www.afrancolini.com

Inclusion in water sports: "Disability is no longer an issue once you get in the boat"

What does inclusive sailing entail? Just ask Elke Paatz. She practically grew up on a sailboat and has become disabled as the result of a sports accident. Paatz is the contact person for inclusive (adaptive) sailing on behalf of the German Sailing Federation (German: Deutscher Segler Verband), DSV.

Photo: Bed with a weighted blanket, ontop of the blanket is a magazine Wei; Copyright: Ribcap

Ribcap: A weighted blanket to increase sleep and inclusion

A good night sleep contributes to a healthy life and a good mood. That is why equipment supporting and improving sleep quality is on the rise. Ribcap now developed a high-quality weighted blanket to increase not only sleep quality but also inclusion. The company targets an underrecognized group: people with different conditions that decrease their sleep quality.

Photo: A woman sitting infront of a Dot Pad, her hand touching the braille surface; Copyright: Dot Incorporation

People with vision impairments: The Dot Pad bridges the information gap

The new Dot Pad is not only smaller and lighter, but also much cheaper than conventional tactile displays – making them more affordable and accessible for people with vision impairments. Dot Inc makes the online world of images more accessible and aims to improve other areas as well. In our interview the Senior Manager Mergel Takam talks about the advantages and technology behind the Dot Pad.

Photo: an elderly couple sitting in their apartment, the LiftonTRIO home elevator can be seen in the background; Copyright: Liftstar GmbH

Stylish and innovative design: taking it to the top with the Lifton home elevator

Raúl Krauthausen recently discovered how much an elevator can make your life easier and add accessibility to your home. These days, the disability rights activist uses the LiftonTRIO Home Elevator from Lifton GmbH to navigate his apartment in Berlin. Reason enough for REHACARE.com to ask the Liftstar Group what makes the Lifton home elevator so different from other systems.

Photo: Thomas Müller, Beate Höß-Zenker and Janine Aigner stand in front of and next to a large poster for World Cerebral Palsy Day 2021; Copyright: Stiftung Pfennigparade

World Cerebral Palsy Day – for inclusion and social participation

I am here, we are here, and the world should know it – with this message, the World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6 should not only draw more attention to the disease. It is also intended to raise awareness of the fact that there is still a lot of catching up to do in terms of the participation of people with cerebral palsy in many areas of society.

Photo: WheelSim VR test user Andreas with VR glasses in front of the screen; Copyright: LIFEtool

WheelSim VR: learning safe electric wheelchair operation thanks to virtual reality

LIFEtool is as non-profit organization that counsels and equips people with the tools, they need to be successful. The Austrian company now successfully adapted its 2D-based simulator WheelSim to virtual reality. VR training enables power wheelchair users to practice difficult tasks in a safe environment.

Photo: Wheelchair Basketball player during warm-up before a game; Copyright: Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de

Parasports in the time of Coronavirus – restart and reset on hold

To overcome the challenges resulting from the pandemic, sports clubs and associations had to get creative. Reinhard Schneider, Chairman of the Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association of North Rhine-Westphalia e. V., knows about the future challenges disability sports face due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on sports associations.

Photo: A girl and a boy ride the TRETS trikes one behind the other. The background is motion blurred, which gives the impression of speed; Copyright: HASE BIKES

Sporty and flexible biking – with the new TRETS from HASE BIKES

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.

Photo: Elderly man with his rolling walker outdoors; Copyright: TOPRO GmbH

Rollators: lightweight mobility aids with style

They used to have an image problem. But now, rollators or walkers, are anything but boring or stuffy. For many, they are treasured state-of-the-art companions for everyday life and a way to express their personality.

Photo: two people on ski: one is sitting in the front, the second person is standing in the back, steering the ski; Copyright: Tessier SARL

The right assistive technology promotes active sports participation

Whether it’s activities in the water, snow or at home – exercise is a great way to boost your health and feel better. A wide range of assistive technology also makes this an option for people with physical disabilities or mild dementia. Some of these tools allow users to enjoy sports in spectacular, beautiful backdrops – in both winter and summer.

Photo: Woman in power wheelchair X8 in the mountains, in the background the mountain panorama of the Zugspitze; Copyright: Sunrise Medical

Accessible hiking in the mountains: The X8 off-road power wheelchair takes users to the top

From the valley to the hut in a wheelchair – and no shuttle bus or mountain railway required. Wheelchair manufacturer Sunrise Medical teamed up with various partners as part of a joint initiative to turn this idea into a reality.

Photo: Close-up of the lower body of a user who is currently driving with spike over a gravel road; Copyright: Exero Technologies

Functionality meets design: the new adaptive sport equipment Spike

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!

Photo: Parents together jogging with her daughter sitting in the Joëlette Kid; Copyright: Joëlette And Co by Ferriol-Matrat

Joëlette Kid makes outdoor experiences more accessible

Going on new adventures with the whole family is fun for everybody. At least, if the necessary assistive devices meet the needs of their users. So does Joëlette Kid – the new all-terrain chair by Ferriol-Matrat. In an interview with REHACARE.com, Alison-Lore Bourget told us about the special features and how especially the children react to their new possibilities.

Photo: The ACCEL QUAD system by Sojadis; Copyright: Sojadis Equipement

Mobility: Small hand control systems with a big effect

Simple, ergonomic, reliable – the multifunctional handles, ACCEL BIKE and ACCEL QUAD, enable improved participation in a mobile and self-determined life. What the two solutions have in common and yet differ, Pierre Gouraud, International Sales of Sojadis Equipement, reveals in an interview with REHACARE.com.

EXTRA: Made to measure sports wheelchair for a better performance

Solid and adapted – this is how auxiliary means for competitive sports such as wheelchair basketball should be. That's why EXTRA wheelchairs from Turkey offers made to measure sports wheelchairs to professional sports people. REHACARE.com talked to Demirhan Serefhan, Managing Director of EXTRA, about the importance of customization and valuable feedback directly from the basketball court.

Photo collage: Male model in a wheelchair and female model with prosthetic leg in clothes from MOB Industries, as well as close-up of a shirt sleeve; Copyright: Jakob Gsöllpointner/MOB Industries

Fashion by MOB Industries: "Inclusion means to truly embrace all body types"

Fashion without barriers – that’s the mission of Viennese-based startup MOB Industries (German: Mode Ohne Barrieren, hence the abbreviation MOB). How has the coronavirus outbreak affected the company’s latest collection and how do functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand? REHACARE.com asked MOB founder and CEO Josefine Thom.

Photo: Mother talking to her daughter sitting at a table opposite her brother; Copyright: Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de

Why inclusion is more important than ever amid the coronavirus crisis

How are families of children with disabilities coping during the coronavirus crisis? A recent online survey asked this question, prompting over 1,600 participants to respond in just two weeks. What do the survey results reveal about the current state of society in terms of social participation and inclusion? We asked Dorothea Kugelmeier and Dr. Raimund Schmolze-Krahn, who launched the study.

Photo: The team from "Die Neue Norm" recording a podcast episode; Copyright: Die Neue Norm

Diversity and inclusion: Podcast breaks with the definition of "normal"

Diversity makes our society richer and stronger. That is why the podcast "Die Neue Norm" (English: The New Norm) does not center on people with disabilities but society as a whole – which includes people with disabilities. Once a month, the podcast features journalists Jonas Karpa, Judyta Smykowski and activist Raul Krauthausen as they discuss topics that move them, their listeners or society.

Photo: A technician – Daniel Anlauf – during some welding work; Copyright: ottobock

Tokyo 2020: Paralympic Games in a "bubble"

The Paralympic Games in Tokyo were different than originally planned – not only for the athletes, but also for the technicians and other experts who helped turn the Tokyo athletic event into a success. Daniel Anlauf was on location as a technician of Ottobock – the official technical service partner of the Paralympics.

Photo: a soldier leaning his head against his dog; Copyright: Rehahunde Deutschland e.V.

PTSD assistance dogs provide security and increase rehabilitation successes

Dogs are not only popular pets, but in some cases they also do important work: Assistance dogs trained for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not only a physical companion in everyday life, but above all must also be a psychological support. The association Rehahunde Deutschland e.V. trains such dogs. This year it celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Photo: a man with brown hair a beard – Lionel Messi – smiles and holds a small OrCam towards the camera; Copyright: OrCam

Lionel Messi and OrCam: Enhancing self-determination in the lives of people with visual impairments

Off the soccer field, professional footballer Lionel Messi is known for his commercials for Pepsi, Lay's or Dolce & Gabbana. Now he has also become the brand ambassador for OrCam MyEye and shines a bright light on this unique assistive technology. Why did the two decide to form this rather unusual partnership?

Photo: Peter Lammer at REHACARE 2019; Copyright: beta-web

Standing Ovation facilitates mobility at the workplace

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.