SoldierStrong Donates State-of-the-Art Exoskeleton to Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SoldierStrong, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced medical technologies to veterans, today announced that it will donate an Ekso™ GT (EKSO) exoskeleton to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System at a ceremony taking place on January 20^th. Researchers plan to use the device in a study investigating innovative treatment options for traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the most prevalent injuries in the veteran community.

“We are committed to improving patient outcomes by driving valuable research that can lead to wider adoption of cutting-edge therapies for the treatment of TBI,” said Dr. Lisa Brenner, Director, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC.). “TBI can manifest a host of symptoms from dizziness to paralysis, which can range in severity. We are thankful to SoldierStrong, whose generosity has enabled this research to benefit veterans.”

The Ekso™ GT device, manufactured by Ekso Bionics, is a wearable robotic suit with smart software and works to help patients with lower extremity weakness, such as from a stroke or spinal cord injury, stand and walk during rehabilitation to help them achieve optimal functional independence.

“Our service members deserve gold standard care and resources to help them re-acclimate to civilian life following their traumatic tours of duty,” said Chris Meek, co-founder and Chairman of SoldierStrong. “We are very proud to support the VA in their mission to provide the utmost care for our veterans.”

This is the tenth Ekso GT suit that SoldierStrong has donated to VA hospitals as part of its commitment to donate a total of 80 suits nationwide.

About Eastern Colorado Health Care System
The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System is a Joint Commission-accredited facility serving Veterans in eastern Colorado and parts of Kansas. The VA Medical Center is located in Denver, Colorado and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics are located in: Alamosa, Aurora, Golden, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, La Junta, and Lamar, CO. There are Primary Care Telehealth Outreach Clinics in Burlington and Salida, CO, an ambulatory surgical center at the Air Force Academy, two Community Living Center Units, one in Pueblo (40 beds) and one in Denver (60 beds), and along with the Department of Defense and Veteran Benefit Administration, an Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Center at Fort Carson, CO. For more information, please visit http://www.denver.va.gov/

About SoldierStrong
SoldierStrong, previously known as SoldierSocks, helps American patriots literally take their new steps forward. Through educational scholarships and by harnessing the most innovative technology in advanced rehabilitation, we help our returning service men and women to continue moving in the only direction they should know – forward.  Nearly every dollar SoldierStrong receives goes towards direct support of American patriots so that they can re-acclimate to civilian life. Our organization works to remind those men and women who sacrificed so much that we are forever thankful.

CONTACT:
SoldierStrong
1127 High Ridge Road #124
Stamford, Connecticut 06905
Telephone: 888-898-3235
Website: http://www.soldierstrong.org
Facebook: SoldierStrong
Twitter: @soldierstrong