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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.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

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.

In short

A clinic gait-training block: £2,800–£5,500. A personal Indego or ReWalk device: £70,000–£90,000.

Service Indicative range
Screening and eligibility assessment £450–£900
Clinic gait-training block (10 sessions) £2,800–£5,500
Extended rehab block (20 sessions) £5,500–£10,000
Indego Personal (device only) £70,000–£85,000
ReWalk 6.0 Personal (device only) £75,000–£90,000
Personal-use training package £8,000–£15,000
Annual servicing and battery cover £1,800–£3,500/yr

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.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

  • Chronic spinal cord injury (T3–L5)

    Complete or incomplete paraplegia at a level the device can support - the largest personal-use group.

  • Motor-incomplete SCI (AIS C/D)

    Some preserved motor function below the injury - the device retrains gait and can produce lasting neurological gains.

  • 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.

  • Multiple sclerosis with lower-limb weakness

    For selected people with MS whose gait has deteriorated but who retain upper-limb strength and cognition.

  • Cerebral palsy (adult)

    Occasionally used for adults with CP who have preserved cognition and want gait training - device fit is the deciding factor.

  • Guillain–Barré or transverse myelitis recovery

    During the recovery phase, exoskeleton gait training can supplement conventional rehab.

  • Standing programme for wheelchair users

    For the cardiovascular, bowel, bladder and psychosocial benefits of daily standing - even when independent walking is not the goal.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • ReWalk 6.0 Personal

    Tilt-sensor activation - a forward lean initiates each step. Modular and personal-use approved. Long track record in SCI.

  • 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.

  • Wandercraft Atalante X

    Self-balancing - no crutches required. Heavier, mainly clinic-based. Suits people without functional upper-limb strength for crutches.

  • Rex Bionics REX

    Self-supporting so hands are free. Heavier and slower than Indego or ReWalk. New Zealand-made, limited UK availability.

  • Hyundai CEX

    Emerging device, therapy-focused. UK availability is limited to research and early-adopter clinics.

  • FES + exoskeleton (hybrid)

    Functional electrical stimulation combined with the suit. Emerging evidence for improved gait quality and reduced fatigue in incomplete SCI.

  • Body-weight-supported treadmill

    A non-exoskeleton alternative for gait training. Often used alongside, or before, exoskeleton training begins.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 UK rehabilitation consultant reviewing a patient’s exoskeleton training notes

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

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.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about powered exoskeletons.

Quick answers on outcomes, device choice, cost, eligibility and what training actually looks like.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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