Exoskeleton: Paralysed woman praises ‘life-changing’ equipment

The equipment, known as the Exomotus M4, is a robot that moves the user’s leg in a natural walking pattern.

Ms Shuttleworth began using it in January during therapy sessions at Morello Clinic, a Newport-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation service.

Now she and eight others who use the exoskeleton are hoping to raise £50,000 to fund its use at the clinic for a year.

“We all have different injuries and get different benefits from it,” she said, adding that the equipment will “literally transform people’s lives”.

Ms Shuttleworth said the exoskeleton has brought her “massive benefits”, helping her circulation and bone density, having already been diagnosed with osteopenia, external – loss of bone density – from not putting weight on her legs for two years.

“It’s also really good for me mentally,” she said. “I have now been able to stand up for the first time in two years and that’s been really emotional.”