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The Argo Technologies Rewalk, one of several recent “exo-skeletons” designed to give the wheelchair-bound the ability to stand and ambulate, recently gained some more visibility (Fans of the T.V. show Glee will recall the Rewalk’s now famous appearance in the 2010 Christmas episode) by being chosen one of Popular Science’s Innovations of the Year in the Health Category. As these devices inevitably make their way from medical journals to the mainstream media, those of us in wheelchairs will undoubtedly face the question, as I did recently: If a Rewalk showed up at your door tomorrow, would you use it?

On first blush anyone, paralyzed or not, would assume the answer to be a resounding “Yes!” For what is there to think about? Instant ascension from the crotch-level substratum of the wheelchair realm to the altitude of the normal? (Yes!) The opportunity to stave off bone loss and osteoporosis by putting weight on a long-sedentary skeletal system? (Yes!) Improved vertical alignment, circulation, and many other known benefits of being upright? (Yes!) You can walk up stairs? (Yes!) And I don’t have to pony up the estimated $40,000 purchase price? (Yes, yes, and—for crying out loud—yes!)

One has to admit that merely having this conversation is exciting; a decade ago the idea of mechanical walking seemed far-flung, firmly imbued in imagination and sci-fi territory—think Sigourney Weaver loading nuclear warheads in her giant Rewalk in Aliens. But all of that is finally changing, thanks to technology and the vision of a few clever and dedicated individuals.

Yet for those who have lived many years with paralysis and have adapted to a life of independence in wheelchairs, the choice may not be so cut and dry. First off, the Rewalk, and similar devices, such as Rex and eLegs are far from perfect; as you can see from this video, walking is slow and cumbersome, and the apparatus itself is presently bulky and invasive. While there is no denying the physical benefits of being vertical, for many who have mastered independent living in chairs, exoskeletons have a long way to go before graduating from clinical exercise to practical, functional everyday use. It would be trading the fluidity and functionality that modern light weight wheelchairs provide, only to plod along mechanically at a fraction of the speed, your arms and hands held captive by the forearm crutches needed for balance.

Disabled advocates have long fought for the social acceptance of the image of the wheelchair user in everyday society; When adaptive breakthroughs like the Rewalk make it to the market promising to “restore dignity” and “a life regained”, that flies in the face of those who feel they have up until now lived a full, active and, yes, dignified life—albeit seated in a wheelchair. Suddenly, the paradigm that all people are equal, despite their mode of mobility begins to erode when the perception that any walking, even jerky, robotic steps, is superior, simply because you’re suddenly no longer chair-bound.

Of course there is no denying the obvious allure of strapping one of these jobs on and taking a test spin—especially if you’ve spent a couple of decades confined to a wheelchair. I personally am a firm believer in regular use of a system that exercises paralyzed muscles called Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), as well as any form of standing therapy, including devices such as the Rewalk; the fact that it is not the long awaited, end-all-be-all cure for paralysis does not in any way diminish its vital role in providing healthy body maintenance and longevity.

Therefore if the Rewalk and others never make it beyond the level of a life-enhancing work out rather than an outright replacement for the everyday mobility that a wheelchair can provide, so be it. However; until the price tag begins to reduce to that of, say, a high-end treadmill for the home, or (even better) if insurance companies recognize the healthy life-changing potential of these devices, just as they now reward able-bodied members for their efforts to exercise and stay healthy (although the industry essentially turned their backs on FES—Rewalk, I believe you’re in for a battle…) unfortunately the Rewalk for now may only be the plaything of the independently wealthy, or otherwise unattainable for ordinary working sots like me.

But if I can manage to test drive one anytime soon, I’ll be sure to tell you all about it.

Sources/Links of interest:

http://www.popsci.com/bown/2011/category/health

http://theycallmewheels.com/blog/content/Living_with_Disability%5CI_Robot.asp

http://theycallmewheels.com/blog/content/Living_with_Disability%5CI_Robot_28part_deux%29.asp

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/screen-grabs-rewalk-helps-glees-artie-abrams-put-his-best-foot/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fogpucb4LWc&feature=related

http://www.argomedtec.com/

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.4453425/k.27A5/Functional_Electrical_Stimulation.htm