Regina non-profit receives $100,000 robotic walker to help kids take their first steps

Mick Favel tells us about a Canadian-made machine now available for Regina children with mobility issues.

The child programming offered at the First Steps Wellness Centre in Regina just got a big boost thanks to an anonymous gift.

The centre which works with those who have suffered neurological trauma or have neurological conditions, recently received a Trexo robotics walking device.

The device is designed for children with mobility issues, such as those who suffer with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions.

Andy Schmidt is the director of community at the First Steps. He said the centre is the first place in the province to have the machine.

“There are only a handful of devices across the country. It’s some new and innovation technology,” Schmidt said.

Inna Begelfer has a three year old son named Leo.

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When Leo was six months old, he was diagnosed with FoxG1 syndrome. The diagnosis came with the possibility of Leo’s walk being impacted.

Leo is one of the first children to try out the technological marvel.

“With a little therapy we got where he is now. He is making some huge progress with having the machine here. It is helping us a lot,” Begelfer said.

Weight and height are the factors for those who use the machine, instead of age.

The user is seated inside the device with their waist and feet strapped in. Small motors on the waist and knees propel the motion.

Information on how the walker is doing is then sent back to the operator overseeing the exercise.

“The machine doesn’t force them through any movements. It is all super gentle and it lets me know how they are doing,” said Bryce Cockwill, the head of the Trexo program at First Steps Wellness Centre.

There are spots at the centre currently open for children who might benefit from the walking machine.

The donor preferred to remain anonymous, as wished for the machine to be used by children.

Trexo Robotics, based in Mississauga, Ont. built the walking device. The model now being used by First Steps has a price tag of $100,000.