The THERY robot is configured to perform various applications, currently THERY UAG for crutch-assisted walking training and THERY GO for walking training without assistive devices.
“In my experience, the robot serves as a motivator for patients who have undergone surgery. Their primary goal is to be able to walk again as soon as possible. The robot can play a crucial role in helping them achieve that.”
Dipl. Med. Päd. Kathrin König MHBA Managing Director Physiokompetenz GmbH – Kur-Natur-Lehrinstitut GmbH – Advanced Vocational School for Physiotherapy, Ilmenau
Robots with human-like appearances motivate users to exercise more
Various studies conducted over the past 15 years using different research robots report increased motivation among patients to exercise on their own with a robot.*
Experts attribute this motivational effect to the robot’s human-like appearance.**
Sources:
* Karunarathne et al. (2019) (DOI: 10.1007/s12369-018-0503-6) and Nomura et al. (2021) (DOI: 10.1007/s11370-020-00345-4) report that older adults prefer to walk with a robot rather than alone. Gross et al. (2017) (DOI: 10.1109/ICRA.2017.7989124) demonstrate comparable effects with a robot that assists stroke patients during training. About two-thirds of patients are more motivated by the robot than when training alone. Meyer et al. (2026, p. 415) confirm these figures in a survey on the predecessor to THERY during gait training with forearm crutches in patients following hip replacement surgery.
** In their study, Fasola/Mataric (2013) (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-00065-7_32) show that seniors performing fitness exercises prefer an embodied, physically present robot over a robot-like trainer displayed only on a screen. In contrast, Leyzberg et al. (2012) demonstrate that a significant improvement in performance can be achieved in on-screen puzzle tasks when participants are assisted by an embodied robot rather than by an avatar on the screen.
Technical data
- dimensions: 500 mm (diameter) x 1500 mm (height)
- weight: 60 kg
- maximum speed: up to 0,8 m/s
- navigation: Autonomous navigation based on a map created by the robot itself (SLAM)
- Charging function: Automatically recharges at its own charging station when the battery is low
- safety: functional safety laser scanner in direction of travel with protective field; obstacle avoidance algorithms;
all-round safety running strip - THERY has been tested by TÜV Rheinland in accordance with EN 60601-1 (electrical safety of medical devices)
THERY is manufactured by MetraLabs, a pioneer in the field of mobile service robotics with approximately 1,000 systems in use worldwide. TEDIRO equips THERY with the necessary software and markets the systems as a medical device manufacturer.
Cloud-based Therapy-Management-System
The THERY robot and its applications are managed via a cloud-based therapy management system.
- Documentation of overall progress in robot-assisted training
- Option to export training history to the patient record or the facility’s IT system upon completion of training
- Facility staff receive individual logins
- Definition of facility-specific training plans with the option to customize
- Flexible training scheduling during the day, as well as in the evenings, on weekends, and on holidays
- RFID chip per user for user identification at the start of training
- Robot management
- Confidential data handling in accordance with GDPR standards
- Server location in Germany; data center operator based in Germany
"Robots, algorithms and AI as colleagues could be considered a useful tool to buffer the effects of staff shortages due to demographic changes and may also help reduce the burden on employees."
Prof. Dr. Jutta Rump
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
