Concierge neuro-rehabilitation · UK
The Indego exoskeleton, and the ones you should compare it with, explained honestly.
Powered lower-limb exoskeletons — Indego, ReWalk, EksoNR, Atalante and REX — for spinal cord injury, stroke and MS gait rehabilitation. What each device does, who it suits, what it costs in the UK, and where to train on it.
Why patients choose us
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A spinal-injury consultant, not a demo
Not a showroom fitting and not a marketing session. A named rehabilitation consultant and a physiotherapist trained on the device you are trying.
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Realistic framing, not sales copy
For most users an exoskeleton is a gait-training tool and a standing tool — not a replacement for the wheelchair. We say so before you spend £70,000.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no manufacturer, so the recommendation between Indego, ReWalk, EksoNR, Atalante and REX is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What exoskeleton training and personal devices cost in the UK.
Indicative ranges across UK spinal-injury centres, private neuro-rehabilitation clinics and manufacturers. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three routes.
In short
A clinic gait-training block: £2,800–£5,500. A personal Indego or ReWalk device: £70,000–£90,000.
| Service | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening and eligibility assessment | £450–£900 | 90 min | Report same week |
| Clinic gait-training block (10 sessions) | £2,800–£5,500 | 10 × 90 min | Over 4–8 weeks |
| Extended rehab block (20 sessions) | £5,500–£10,000 | 20 × 90 min | Over 8–16 weeks |
| Indego Personal (device only) | £70,000–£85,000 | Delivered | 6–12 weeks lead time |
| ReWalk 6.0 Personal (device only) | £75,000–£90,000 | Delivered | 8–16 weeks lead time |
| Personal-use training package | £8,000–£15,000 | 20–40 hrs | Included with most devices |
| Annual servicing and battery cover | £1,800–£3,500/yr | Ongoing | On-site or ship-in |
Prices vary by centre, by device chosen, and by how much training you need. Charity funding is sometimes available through Spinal Research, the MS Trust and the Spinal Injuries Association; crowdfunding is common. We come back with a firm quote within two working days.
The problem
The right device, for the right person, with the right expectations.
Exoskeleton buying decisions are made in a market of £70,000-plus devices with wildly different marketing and very different clinical fit. Poor decisions cost money, hope and sometimes skin. We fix that before you commit.
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Not sure it will help you?
Screening comes first. If your level, contractures, upper-limb strength or bone density make the suit unsafe, we say so before you spend a penny.
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Comparing Indego and ReWalk?
The right answer depends on your body, your goals and your day-to-day life — not on which manufacturer is louder that quarter.
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Want realistic outcomes?
A powered exoskeleton is a gait-training tool and a standing tool. For most SCI users it is not a wheelchair replacement — and we will tell you that plainly.
The journey
From enquiry to independent training — what happens, in order.
One clinician co-ordinates from first message through screening, fitting, training and long-term review.
Phase 1 · Before training
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · At the centre
Fitting and supervised training
Phase 3 · After
Physio, review, servicing
- 01
Before
You tell us what you are hoping for
A short, confidential form. Level of injury, time since injury, current mobility, whether you want a personal device or clinic gait-training.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within two working days: which device fits your level and goals, which UK centre offers it, and an honest view on whether personal use is realistic for you.
- 03
Before
Screening assessment arranged
ROM, spasticity, skin, cardiovascular fitness, bone density and upper-limb strength are checked before any suit is fitted. Fitted suits usually within two to six weeks.
- 04
At the centre
Fitting and first stand
Suit calibrated to your leg lengths and hip width. First supported stand, then transfers with two spotters and forearm crutches.
- 05
At the centre
First supervised steps
Sit-to-stand, weight-shift and first strides on a level surface with parallel bars or rollator. Sessions typically 60–90 minutes with rest.
- 06
At the centre
Training block over weeks
Twenty to forty hours of supervised training over four to twelve weeks before independent clinic use — or before a personal device leaves the centre.
- 07
After
Ongoing physio and review
Skin checks, servicing schedule, battery replacement, and a review at three, six and twelve months. Personal-use users always walk with a trained spotter.
Typical end-to-end: 4–12 weeks for a training block. Personal-device supply: 3–6 months including training.
When it helps
When a powered exoskeleton is the right step.
The clinical situations we see most, and the red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Chronic spinal cord injury (T3–L5)
Complete or incomplete paraplegia at a level the device can support — the largest personal-use group.
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Motor-incomplete SCI (AIS C/D)
Some preserved motor function below the injury — the device retrains gait and can produce lasting neurological gains.
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Chronic post-stroke hemiparesis
Adults more than six months after stroke, plateaued on conventional physio — EksoNR and similar are used for intensive gait re-training.
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Multiple sclerosis with lower-limb weakness
For selected people with MS whose gait has deteriorated but who retain upper-limb strength and cognition.
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Cerebral palsy (adult)
Occasionally used for adults with CP who have preserved cognition and want gait training — device fit is the deciding factor.
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Guillain–Barré or transverse myelitis recovery
During the recovery phase, exoskeleton gait training can supplement conventional rehab.
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Standing programme for wheelchair users
For the cardiovascular, bowel, bladder and psychosocial benefits of daily standing — even when independent walking is not the goal.
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Red flag: autonomic dysreflexia
A pounding headache, sweating or a blood-pressure spike during use (SCI T6 and above) needs the device stopping immediately and same-day medical review.
Device comparison
Indego is not the only device. Know the alternatives.
What each of the main powered exoskeletons actually does — and which fits which patient.
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Indego (Parker Hannifin)
Modular, lightweight (about 12 kg), sit-to-stand-to-walk with forearm crutches. FDA-cleared for personal use in SCI. The most portable of the personal-use options.
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ReWalk 6.0 Personal
Tilt-sensor activation — a forward lean initiates each step. Modular and personal-use approved. Long track record in SCI.
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Ekso Bionics EksoNR
Rehabilitation-focused, hospital and clinic-based. Variable adaptive assist for stroke, SCI and MS gait retraining. Increasingly used in UK NHS stroke units.
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Wandercraft Atalante X
Self-balancing — no crutches required. Heavier, mainly clinic-based. Suits people without functional upper-limb strength for crutches.
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Rex Bionics REX
Self-supporting so hands are free. Heavier and slower than Indego or ReWalk. New Zealand-made, limited UK availability.
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Hyundai CEX
Emerging device, therapy-focused. UK availability is limited to research and early-adopter clinics.
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FES + exoskeleton (hybrid)
Functional electrical stimulation combined with the suit. Emerging evidence for improved gait quality and reduced fatigue in incomplete SCI.
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Body-weight-supported treadmill
A non-exoskeleton alternative for gait training. Often used alongside, or before, exoskeleton training begins.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of centres, we picked them.
Specialist spinal-injury centres and private neuro-rehabilitation clinics with certified exoskeleton programmes — Stoke Mandeville, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Salisbury, Belfast, Cardiff and the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow. Introductions made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every centre in our network.
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Consultant rehabilitation medicine physicians and spinal-injury specialists
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Physiotherapists formally trained and certified on the specific device
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Full pre-training screening — ROM, skin, bone density, cardiovascular fitness
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Honest counselling on whether personal use is realistic before any device is bought
Safety and eligibility
What to plan for — honestly.
Powered exoskeletons are safe in trained hands, but the risks are real and specific: skin, joints, blood pressure and falls. The wins are real too — for the right person, with the right expectations.
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Pressure areas need meticulous checking
The commonest complication. Skin at the sacrum, ischial tuberosities and heels is inspected before and after every session — a small mark stops training that day.
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Autonomic dysreflexia in SCI T6 and above
A dangerous blood-pressure spike triggered by discomfort below the injury. Devices stop immediately if suspected — training staff are trained to recognise it.
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Falls are prevented, not survived
Personal-use walking is always with forearm crutches and a trained spotter. Self-balancing devices remove the crutch need but do not remove the spotter.
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Joint contractures and heterotopic ossification
Tight hips or knees, or bony overgrowth after injury, can make the suit unsafe. This is checked before training and monitored throughout.
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Bone density before first use
Long-standing wheelchair users can have low bone density in the legs. A DEXA scan and sometimes bisphosphonate treatment are considered before training.
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Cardiovascular fitness matters
Standing and stepping are hard work. Blood pressure and heart rate are monitored throughout early sessions and rest is built into every session.
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It is a gait-training tool, not a cure
The honest answer: personal-use exoskeletons supplement — they do not replace — the wheelchair for most users. Standing, physio and specific practical tasks are the realistic wins.
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Battery life and mechanical failure
Batteries last two to four hours of walking. Devices are serviced annually and never used outside the training envelope agreed with the centre.
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Red flags during use
Sudden headache, sweating, chest pain, severe spasticity or a new pressure mark are all reasons to stop immediately and speak to the team.
Reading your rehabilitation note
Your note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever centre and device were used, the summary the team sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Rehabilitation language is technical — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis, level and goals
Injury or condition, neurological level, time since onset, and what you and the team agreed you were trying to achieve.
- 02 Assessment
Screening findings
Range of motion, spasticity, skin integrity, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, upper-limb strength and cognition — the eligibility numbers on one page.
- 03 Training
Device chosen and hours completed
Which suit was used, how many hours of supervised training, what stand and step milestones you reached, any incidents.
- 04 Impression
Recommendation and next steps
Read this first: whether ongoing clinic training, a personal device, or a different approach (FES, body-weight-supported treadmill) is the right next step.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for exoskeleton training varies by insurer and indication — some fund clinic rehab blocks for stroke or SCI, but personal-device purchase is almost always self-pay or charity-funded. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about powered exoskeletons.
Quick answers on outcomes, device choice, cost, eligibility and what training actually looks like.
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Will an exoskeleton let me walk again?
Honestly — mostly no, not in the way you walked before. Indego, ReWalk and similar suits let you stand and step for training, standing programmes and specific practical tasks. For most users the wheelchair remains the primary mobility. Motor-incomplete SCI and some stroke users do gain lasting gait improvements from training.
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Which device is right for me — Indego, ReWalk, EksoNR or Atalante?
It depends on your injury level, upper-limb strength, weight, whether you want personal or clinic use, and whether you can manage forearm crutches. Indego and ReWalk suit personal use in SCI. EksoNR is rehabilitation-focused for stroke and SCI. Atalante suits those without crutch capacity. We match device to person before you commit.
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How much does a personal exoskeleton cost in the UK?
Indego Personal and ReWalk 6.0 are £70,000–£90,000 for the device, plus £8,000–£15,000 for the personal-use training package and £1,800–£3,500 a year for servicing and batteries. Some funding is available through Spinal Research, the MS Trust and specialist charity grants; crowdfunding is common.
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Is exoskeleton training available on the NHS?
Yes, in a limited way. Specialist spinal-injury centres — Stoke Mandeville, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Salisbury, Belfast, Cardiff and the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow — offer supervised exoskeleton gait training for inpatients and some outpatients. Personal-device supply on the NHS is very rare.
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Who is eligible to train?
Broadly: injury level T3 to L5 for Indego (higher-level injuries need extra bracing), good upper-limb strength for crutches, cognitive capacity for training, adequate joint range with no fixed contractures, intact pressure-area skin, manageable spasticity, and cardiovascular fitness for standing. A screening assessment confirms fit.
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How long does the training take?
Twenty to forty hours of supervised training over four to twelve weeks is typical before independent clinic use or before a personal device leaves the centre with you. Ongoing physiotherapy is part of using the suit safely at home.
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What are the risks?
Skin breakdown at pressure points, joint injury from forced movement in tight joints, fatigue, falls if unsupervised, autonomic dysreflexia in SCI at T6 or above, and mechanical or battery failure. Meticulous training, a trained spotter and regular servicing keep the risks low.
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Can I use it at home on my own?
No. Personal-use models are used at home with a trained companion or carer present. The device itself allows independent stepping, but current safety training requires a spotter — for helping with the suit, watching for pressure marks, and responding to any AD or fall.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
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Functional electrical stimulation
FES for foot drop and gait retraining — often combined with exoskeletons.
Learn more -
Foot-drop surgery
Tendon transfer and nerve options for persistent foot drop.
Learn more -
Diaphragm pacing for SCI
Pacing the diaphragm to reduce ventilator dependence in high-cervical injury.
Learn more -
All tests
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more
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