Project Goal
Produce two innovative MetaGait rehabilitation devices with VR (virtual reality) environments and place the devices in an accessible location where veterans with disabilities, people with cerebral palsy, those partially paralyzed from strokes and others can use them free of charge.
Project Background
After the 4-Day War (2016), kinesiologist David Arsenyan started working with soldiers who had been severely wounded. In many cases, it took a whole team to literally help a patient get on his feet to practice walking again.
Without a strong team of physiotherapists at home, it is hard to continue consistent rehab. As a result, between therapy sessions, many veterans remain in wheelchairs or seated for extended periods of time. This affects not only their physical health but also their mental wellness.
In order to help solve these problems, David began to brainstorm a device that would enable the patient to take his mobility into his own hands … a device that would allow a patient to “walk” on his own while maintaining correct body orientation, reducing the need for multiple specialists to work with one patient. That’s how “MetaGait” was born. Combining elements of a standing frame and elliptical trainer, the MetaGait device moves and activates all the muscles that work during walking. The user can operate the device with one hand. MetaGait creates new neuron connections in the brain and in some cases, can assist in partial or complete recovery of lost mobility. Using the device itself can help to prevent more than 30 diseases that develop along with a forced sedentary lifestyle.
The MetaGait device also boasts another innovative feature. A virtual reality headset enables patients to engage in more intensive rehabilitative games-exercises alongside other users! The VR component also enable cybertourism and e-sports for people with disabilities. For example, with the help of MetaGait, a person with a disability can take a virtual tour of the Tatev monastery complex. In real life, this kind of tour would be almost impossible for someone with mobility difficulties.
David and his team have already donated 15 MetaGait devices free-of-charge to veterans in greatest need, and they’ve seen amazing results. While they dream of donating a MetaGait to each veteran who could benefit from one, this is not yet feasible.
We love the solution of creating a rehab hub with two MetaGait devices open to the community for free. You — our amazing partners — are going to help us make this happen!
Pavel Zolnikov
Maksim Zagovora
Artem Zabavnov
Mariam Yevdokimova
Egor Yanson
Denis Yakovlev
Abhishek Yadav
Kara White
Anton Vert
Iuliia Vaneeva
Madlen Tutelian
Polina Turova
Ilia Tsyrulnikov
Raya Tsoneva
Julia Tseglyarskaya
Hovhannes Toroyan
Armen Terjimanian
Harout Sukiasian
Donna Stites
Ella Stepanyan
Tatiana Spiridonova
Romany Shaker
Houry Schmeizl Yapoujian
Mauricio Scaglione
Ani Sargsyan
Hratch Sargsyan
Anna Sargsyan
Angelina Samsonyan
Armen Sahakyan
Meruzhan Saghatelyan
Elena Ryabikina
Ivan Rufeev
Ivan Rufeev
Artem Rudnevskiy
Michael Roberts
Grigory Revinsky
Aleksandr Prokhorov
Vahe Pezeshkian
Valeiya Petrosyan
Sergei Parfenov
Tejas Pagar
Lira Nigmatullina
Karen M. Nargizian
Artyom Movsisyan
Oxana Morozova
Arda Mirek
Anna Mikayelyan
Maria Melnikova
Karen Melikyan
Lori C. Megherian
Arpine Mazhinyan
Taline Masoian
Gurgen Martirosyan
Avetik Markosyan
Alexis Marinof
Naira Margaryan
Andranik Margaryan
Harout Manougian
Mary Mamikonian
Tigran Mamikonian
Anton Lvov
Robert Leonard
Anna Lavrova
Aleksandr Lavrov
Denis Laus
Theo Lane
Victoria Kuznetsova
Anna Kuzina
Vasily Kuleshov
Aleksandr Kucherenko
Anna Krilova
Natalia Komar
Taiki Kohno
Lalageh Kocharian
Tigran Khotsanyan
Melanie Khoranians
Lilit Khachikyan
Gohar Khachatryan
Janna Khachatryan
Ara Kedekian
Nanor Kassab
Ara Karapetyan
Elena Kamentseva
Dabnila Kachanka
Aram Jivanyan
Raffi Jiftejian
Shahan Jebejian
Andrei Ivanov
Sona Hovhannisyan
Sergey Hovakimyan
Tatevik Hovakimyan
Carel Hofstra
Julia Hintlian
Hmayak Hayrapetyan
Balabek Harutyunyan
Elina Harutyunyan
Liana Harutyunyan
Ben Hartigan
James Hartigan
Anna Hakobyan
Gayane Hakhinyan
Marianna Guroghlyan
Andrey Grebenko
Anna Goldstein
Olga Glukhova
Razmik Gasparyan
Danila Gagarinov
Anna Gabrielyan
Joanne Fairley
Julija Elliott
Anton Eliseev
Anastasiia Elina
Laura Duryan
Daria Dmitrochenko
Joachim Debois
Viken Darakjian
Jennifer Cote
Sam Coppell
Pieter Cogger-Sarkis
Anguine Carapetian
Nikolay Butrin
Katerina Bougiouri
Aleksander Blinov
Igor Bitkin
Anna Bieniek-Wisniewska
Alice Barsoumian
Max Bars
Diana Barkhudaryan
Sona Baghdasaryan
sergey badalyan
Vrezh Badalyan
Armen Babajanian
Nerses Aznauryan
Tatevik Azizyan
Vahagn Azaryan
Arman Avetisyan
Ani Avagyan
Gohar Avagyan
Marianna Atshemyan
Lusine Asryan
Lilit Asatryan
Grigor Aramyan
Simon Arajian
Nikita Arabchik
Anastasiia Apasova
Ara Amiryan
Tatevik Aleksanyan
Silva Alaverdian
Seroj Alaverdian
Knar Alashaian
Maxim Al Farakh
Grant Akopian
Pavel Akhrameev
Gayane Aghabalyan
Anush Aghababyan
Lusik Aghababyan
Edmond Abrahamian
FocalChange Inc.
Joseph Casali
Ruzanna Sargsyan
Kegham Sherikian
Krikor Norsigian
Nyree Masoian
Carl J. Bazarian
Tatevik Ayazyan
Meline Toufayan
Rob Stites
Mike Kalajian
Jane DuMond
Lia Sukiasyan
Margarit Piliposyan
Emmie Hakobyan
Rostom Zenountian
David Smith
Narek Mamikonyan
Kristina Khachaturyan
Eric Kassabian
Kristapor Giragosian
Laura Gevorgyan
Kathleen Chakmakjian
Jennifer Bedrosian
George Bedrosian
Andrew Yenicag
Anna Vardanyan
Aline Tashjian
Sarah Stites
Fr. Shnork Souin
Arin Parsanian
David Onanian
Anne And Rob T. Norris
James Moresco
Caroline Kernan
Yeprem Kelegian
Aleen Kaltakdjian
Aren Jebejian
Stephen Haroian
Ara Hacet
Kathryn A A. Geyer
Mikhail Filippov
Roberta Ervine
Jonathan Campbell
Francis Bulbulian
Sevan Birky
Supporters
217
Partner
‘’Industrial Armenia’’ scientific-research and scientific-production NGO
9/12/22
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