By Katie Willmott
Last fall, the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s White Marsh location, about 15 miles northeast of downtown Baltimore, became home to the world’s first ZeroG 3D®, a groundbreaking gait trainer that allows individuals with spinal cord injuries full freedom of movement.
While Kennedy Krieger is no stranger to world-class rehabilitative technology, the ZeroG 3D stands apart from similar pieces of equipment due to the sheer scope of movement it allows.
“It’s absolutely a game-changer,” says occupational therapist Dr. Rebecca Martin, the center’s manager of clinical research and education.
Previous versions of the ZeroG limited users to walking only in a straight line, but the 3D version allows for movement in any direction. Patients can practice their gait, improve their balance and simulate activities of daily living, such as moving around a kitchen or laundry room. They can also ride a bike, play basketball and soccer, and even dance—the possibilities are endless.
The ZeroG 3D will be used primarily by patients who receive activity-based restorative therapy, which focuses on movement and activity to promote new connections between the brain and nervous system, thereby restoring functioning.
It’s absolutely a game-changer.” – Dr. Rebecca Martin
While the ZeroG 3D was introduced to the Institute less than a year ago, it’s already made a significant difference in the lives of many of the center’s patients. The ZeroG 3D has helped patients improve not only their range of motion but also their quality of life.
One of those patients is Jerry Sersen, who was hit by a car as a child. He started receiving services at the center in 2007, when his walking ability started to decline. He promised his wife, Karen, they would dance together again. But while he made significant strides in his recovery, he worried he might not be able to keep his promise.
Then Jerry started using the ZeroG 3D during therapy appointments, and he realized his promise was within reach. With the help of the ZeroG 3D, and under the lights of Kennedy Krieger’s White Marsh therapy gym, Jerry and Karen shared a dance.
