A Canadian robotics company helps children with mobility issues

A Canadian technology company is helping children with mobility issues put their best foot forward with revolutionary robotic legs.

Ontario-based Trexo Robotics is currently on a cross-country roadshow touting their device, a robotic gait trainer.

“It's an exoskeleton, it attaches to the child and adapts. And then once it's on, ideally, press play and they start walking,” said Corey Schneider, a physical therapist and customer success manager at Trexo.

The company serves families and children with motor and physical disabilities.

Seven-year-old Jahir Ajabo was one of the kids in Winnipeg who had to take a few steps with a robotic trainer on Saturday.

He was born with cerebral palsy and spent most of his life in a wheelchair.

“It wasn't what I expected when I gave birth because he was in a wheelchair,” said his mother, Kimoya Grant.

A robotic walking trainer from Trexo Robotics. May 18, 2024. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News Winnipeg)

With an extra push from the robotic legs, Ajabo is taking steps in the right direction — 474 of them on Saturday alone.

Revolutionary technology is paving the way for robotics in rehabilitation across the country.

“If you look at the market, there's nothing that serves the worst kids,” Schneider said. “So I think we have a huge, huge opportunity here to help families and help kids, give them the opportunities of their peers.”

These are the features that Winnipeg therapy clinic Stable Conditions wants to provide to its clients.

“They come and get therapy for some functional skills, and then build a repeat, like a borrowing library system. So they can take it home, add the repeat, and then bring it back,” said Sara-Michel Senecal. , Owner and Lead Physician of Permanent Conditions.

For people like Grant, he wants to see his son do it on a regular basis.

“Every parent wants their child to be able to walk,” says Grant.

After a stop in Winnipeg, Trexo will head to Surrey, BC on May 25th.