ICARE
Walking after a neurological injury can feel challenging. You may tire quickly or struggle with balance and coordination. ICARE technology at Brooks Rehabilitation helps you practice stepping and mobility skills safely.
What is ICARE?
ICARE stands for Intelligently Controlled Assistive Rehabilitation Elliptical. It is a rehabilitation device for stepping and mobility training.
This gait training technology is an elliptical trainer with body-weight support. A harness helps reduce the amount of weight placed on your legs and keeps you safe from falling. This allows you to begin practicing movement sooner and with greater confidence.
Unlike a traditional fitness elliptical, ICARE is specifically for rehabilitation. The system helps you practice repetitive stepping movements needed to reach your walking and mobility goals
Who ICARE technology helps
ICARE gait therapy may help people recovering from conditions that affect walking, balance or coordination. It may also help people who have poor coordination, limited endurance or difficulty participating in traditional walking activities. Your therapist will determine whether ICARE is appropriate for your needs and goals.
This technology may help you if you are recovering from:
How ICARE works
Think of ICARE as a supported elliptical designed for rehabilitation. While wearing a safety harness, you stand on the pedals and practice stepping movements with your arms and legs.
The system helps support your weight and an internal motor helps guide your movement. This may allow you to practice stepping earlier in recovery, even if walking independently is still difficult.
Key benefits of ICARE technology
Like many rehabilitation technologies used at Brooks, ICARE helps you perform more repetitions during therapy. Repetition is an important part of your recovery and motor learning.
This technology helps support:
- Greater endurance during therapy
- Improved balance and coordination
- Increased stepping repetitions
- More active participation in rehabilitation
- Safer mobility training
- Whole-body movement using both the arms and legs
What to expect with ICARE therapy
Before therapy begins, your physical therapist evaluates your mobility and walking goals.
During treatment, they position you in the ICARE system and fit a harness around you. The harness provides support while you practice stepping movements. Sessions are tailored to your abilities and comfort level. As you progress, your therapist may reduce support and increase the challenge.
Your therapist can also adjust:
- Body-weight support
- Resistance levels
- Speed
- Therapy activities
How Brooks supports your recovery with ICARE technology
At Brooks, we use ICARE when it can help you safely practice movement and increase your participation during therapy.
Our therapists combine rehabilitation technology with evidence-based treatment strategies. Every therapy plan is built around your goals and abilities. We help you improve mobility, build confidence and participate more fully in your daily life.
When you come to Brooks, your team:
- Builds therapy around your goals: We tailor treatment to your mobility challenges and priorities.
- Focuses on meaningful movement: Therapy supports the skills you use for walking and daily activities.
- Increases opportunities for practice: ICARE helps you perform more stepping repetitions during therapy.
- Monitors progress throughout recovery: We adjust treatment as your abilities change.
- Provides the right level of support: Assistance is customized to help you move safely and successfully.
FAQs about ICARE technology
Is ICARE the same as an elliptical machine?
No. ICARE is a rehabilitation device for stepping and mobility training. It includes features such as body-weight support and therapist-controlled assistance that are not found on traditional fitness equipment.
Do I need to be able to walk to use ICARE?
Not necessarily. ICARE may be appropriate for some patients who are not yet ready for traditional walking activities. Your therapist will determine whether this technology is right for you.
Can ICARE help improve my endurance?
Yes. Because ICARE supports part of your body weight, you may be able to practice stepping for longer periods than you could during traditional walking activities. This can create more opportunities to build stamina during rehabilitation.
Getting started at Brooks Rehabilitation
To learn more about our technology-assisted rehabilitation, reach out to us below.