Robotic Gait Trainer System Installed at Noolppuzha Family Health Centre in Kerala

Wayanad: A Robotic Gait Trainer system has been set up at the Noolppuzha Family Health Centre (FHC) in Wayanad, Kerala. This is the first time such a device has been installed at a Family Health Centre in India. The system helps patients who have trouble walking due to stroke, spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, or other disabilities.

The device supports patients through different training modes. It starts with an air-walk mode, where the patient’s legs move without touching the ground. Then it moves to passive mode, where the machine provides full support. In assistive mode, the patient uses some strength with partial support. Finally, in active mode, the patient walks mostly on their own with stability support from the machine.

The system can also work as a treadmill and includes virtual reality features to improve training. Both children and adults can use the device. Patients are secured with a belt during sessions to help guide their movements. On average, the machine helps patients take 900 steps in 20 minutes.

The project was funded by the government under the Wayanad Package with a budget of Rs 2.5 crore. Treatment at Noolppuzha FHC is free, unlike private hospitals where sessions can cost around Rs 2,000. A technical expert from Gen-robotics, the company that developed the system, will stay at the centre for one year to train staff.

The system is already being used for pilot treatments. Patients from Wayanad and nearby districts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have started coming for therapy. This new facility aims to make advanced rehabilitation accessible in rural healthcare settings.