【News】 Announcing the launch of a new service to prevent frailty

CYBERDYNE Inc. (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture; from now on referred to as “CYBERDYNE”) announces that it will begin offering a health promotion and frail prevention program utilizing HAL at Robocare Centers nationwide.

This service was developed based on an exploratory intervention study (ME-BYO & ME-RISE Project)*1 in the Kanagawa Prefecture Mirai Me-byo Cohort Study, in which Shonan Robocare Center participated. The program was also featured on a national television channel on September 4, 2011 *2. The show highlighted the program’s effectiveness in maintaining health and improving the functions of seniors.

Result summary
Seventy-nine seniors diagnosed as frail*3 or pre-frail were divided into a HAL group and a control group. They participated in an exercise program twice a week for five weeks, for ten sessions. The results showed that the ten-meter walking speed improved by 36% in the HAL group compared to the starting point, and the locomotive score, which indicates physical deterioration, also improved by 93%.

Based on the research results, the Company will begin offering a health promotion and frailty prevention program through its Robocare Centers nationwide. The program aims to extend healthy life expectancy and improve independence, mainly among seniors.

Program outline
– Each session is expected to take approximately 30-45 minutes, including a health check, preparation for fitting, health promotion/frail prevention program, and breaks.
– The program includes various exercises such as standing, sitting, squatting, etc. With HAL’s assistance, even those with difficulty moving can easily engage in exercises.
– The program will be supported and led by staff members of Robocare Center.

The Company will continue to contribute to the maintenance of health and improvement of the quality of life of the seniors in cooperation with the Robocare Centers in each region.

*1 Please refer to the following document for the exploratory intervention study (ME-BYO & ME-RISE Project) (available in Japanese only) 
https://www.keio.ac.jp/ja/press-releases/files/2024/9/25/240925-2.pdf

*2 NHK Close Up Gendai
The program titled “frontline of research on extending healthy lifespan”（first aired September 4th, 2024) can be accessed through NHK Plus service operated by Japanese National Television channel.
https://www.nhk.jp/p/gendai/ts/R7Y6NGLJ6G/episode/te/7NZK67GVR7/

*3  Frail refers to mental and physical deterioration resulting from impaired daily functions with aging and the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases. Although it is believed that many seniors will progress to a state of need for nursing care through frail, it is considered to be a state in which it is possible to maintain or improve the functions of daily living with appropriate intervention and support. Various intervention methods are being considered and implemented.