Community Magazine April 2013

We all appreciate the feeling of a fresh breeze on our faces, the feeling of freedom as we take a jog or a walk. For too many people, however, injury or disease can make the joys of unimpaired movement a distant dream. Here are some amazing Israeli medical breakthroughs that are helping people overcome their limitations and experience the freedom of mobility. Amazing Medical Breakthroughs Modern Israeli inventions offer new hope, and opportunities, for the handicapped. YVETTE MILLER Miraculous Marathon Claire Lomas walked the London Marathon, beginning on the marathon date, April 21, 2012. Her time was slow: 16 days, to be exact. But her feat electrified all of Britain, for this 32-year-old mother has been paralyzed from the chest down since a horse riding accident in 2007. Ms. Lomas was able to walk the 26-mile course using a revolutionary new body suit, the ReWalk , developed by Israeli medical researcher Dr. Amit Goffer. The ReWalk works by providing support to enable paralyzed wearers remain upright. It then senses minute changes in pressure and direction in the wearer, and responds by mimicking the movements they indicate. Patients wearing the ReWalk can sit and stand, walk, and even climb stairs. ReWalk - ReWalk is the world’s first commercially available upright walking technology for people with lower- limb disabilities. The 44-pound device is comprised of a brace support suit that integrates motors at the joints; an array of sensors; a computer-based control system; and rechargeable batteries. Sophisticated algorithms analyze body movements, which then trigger and maintain gait patterns as well as stair climbing and shifting from sitting to standing. Crutches provide extra stability for walking. 64 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE