My name is Susana Rodríguez, I am 39 years old and well… 23 years ago I had a complete spinal cord injury at thoracic level 8.

Why are you interested in exoskeletons?

Because I believe that in the future all those people who have a mobility problem or a physical disability can benefit from it. I think it can become a very important tool, both in the hospital and also at home, to go to work, move around… I think that it can be very useful on a day-to-day basis.

What is your experience with the ABLE Exoskeleton?

It started through my friend Helena, who is a physiotherapist and called me to, well, to become a “guinea pig” for a new project they were developing, the exoskeleton. So well, I started doing some tests, trying the exoskeleton and giving feedback on how it was working. The feeling of walking is unique and to be able to also help during the development of such an important project… the truth is that those experiences were very, very vital. The sensation of walking again, feeling a bit free again, leaving the chair in a corner, and being able to stand again at a height of 175cm and look everyone in the eye. Those were very powerful sensations.

Have you noticed changes or improvements in your body after using the exoskeleton?

Above all, the issue of spasticity. Because in my day-to-day I have a lot of spasticity in my muscles so the fact of standing upright on my feet for half an hour or 50 minutes while we are doing the tests at the end to me is very very very very beneficial. Because my legs get calm, they are relaxed and give me a bit of margin. For me, it’s very important also the feeling that you have when you finish using the exoskeleton, because you notice that you have been working out. I have been doing physical exercise, so it helps with cardiovascular issues. You notice that there has been an exercise, you notice that your body has stopped sitting in the chair and is back on its feet, working again as it was supposed to before the injury.

In what aspects of your life do you think our exoskeleton could help you?

At home, it would be useful because in my case I am in a wheelchair, and the exoskeleton could help me get things from the shelves or closets. What we also discussed is the issue that in the end, you need to remind your body that its position is not to be sitting, you need to remind it that it is made to be standing upright, so continued use is also important. You know, it is not something you do once a week and it’s done, you have to do it every day. An exoskeleton could help me move inside my flat with freedom. Well … I think that’s a very important help on a day-to-day basis as well.

Have you tried the latest model of the ABLE Exoskeleton? Did you notice any difference compared to previous versions?

I have noticed it is much smoother than the other. It is like a movement that is more organic, a more natural movement. Due to that, for me as a user, it was also much easier to use it. So yes, the main difference that I noticed is it is much more organic.

What would you improve or what would you like our exoskeleton to allow you to do?

Perhaps the most important thing that I would like to be able to do with it would be to be completely autonomous. That is, not to depend on a person who is for your safety. But in the end, on a day-to-day basis, you need someone to be behind for safety. When you have enough experience you can use it autonomously without any problem, but it is true that it gives you the feeling of being safer when there is a person behind because in the end it is a device that has its weight, so falling could be dangerous. But if you manage to achieve a degree of autonomy that allows me to use it by myself, I think that would be top.

Three words describing the ABLE Exoskeleton.

My three words would be health, freedom and autonomy.