Overview

• On June 12 in Calgary, former Humboldt Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki walked a 12-metre track using the XoMotion exoskeleton, regaining an upright perspective after seven years in a wheelchair.
• Developed by Vancouver-based Human in Motion Robotics, the XoMotion system uses a handheld remote to guide users through forward, backward and lateral steps with powered leg supports.
• Priced at approximately $400,000, the device earned praise for its smooth human-like movement from Uyen Nguyen at Calgary’s Synaptic Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre.
• During the demonstration, Straschnitzki used the exoskeleton to handle a hockey stick and throw a football, underscoring its agility and potential for daily activities.
• Calgary’s Synaptic Centre will soon offer the XoMotion exoskeleton to other patients with spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.