Mapo-gu Helps People With Disabilities Reclaim Their Walk

Mapo-gu is running a robot rehabilitation program for people with disabilities registered at its public health centers, using wearable robots to help residents who have difficulty walking.

The district has built a cooperative framework with the rehabilitation medicine department of Seoul Seobuk Hospital and a wearable-robot company, bringing together a hospital, a private firm and the local community to support rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

Held at the Seogang Community Health Center on Dongmak-ro, the program uses a wearable walking-assist robot to analyze each participant's gait and tailor rehabilitation exercises to their individual physical condition and walking characteristics.

The robot assists with walking based on gait analysis results and can be set to a resistance mode for leg-strengthening exercises when needed. Participants can review their own walking patterns, learn proper gait habits and receive help preventing secondary complications caused by limited mobility.

The entire rehabilitation process takes place under the close supervision of physical therapists. One or two therapists accompany each participant from the moment they put on the robot through every movement and exercise, helping them practice walking safely and working to prevent falls and other accidents.

Eleven people are taking part in the program, which runs for three sessions of two hours each. The first session, held at the Seogang Community Health Center on July 1, focused on analyzing and correcting walking patterns through the wearable robot.

The second session, held Wednesday, took participants out onto nearby walkways to train on real outdoor conditions — ramps, paving blocks and crosswalks — building gait stability and endurance.

The third and final session, scheduled for Nov. 11, will take place at everyday community facilities such as a supermarket, a library and a park. Participants will wear the robots while completing real-life tasks, practicing the kinds of movement needed for daily life.

A 52-year-old participant from Ahyeon-dong said the program let her try robot rehabilitation free of charge — something that would normally cost a great deal at a hospital. "At first it felt strange to go outside wearing the robot, but with the robot's walking support and the help of the therapist, I gained confidence walking outdoors," she said.

Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said the program was designed to give people with disabilities in the community access to professional gait rehabilitation close to home, even if they would not ordinarily encounter advanced rehabilitation services. "I hope robot rehabilitation becomes an opportunity for people with disabilities to take each step more comfortably and build the confidence to venture out into everyday life," he said.

The Seogang Community Health Center offers a range of rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities registered in Mapo-gu, including a rehabilitation health room, home-visit rehabilitation for homebound residents, group exercise programs and social participation services. Those interested in joining the community-based rehabilitation project or with related inquiries can contact the center directly for more information.