At Hobbs Rehabilitation’s Intensive Neurotherapy Centre (INC) in Bristol, we’re proud to be championing the future of neurological rehabilitation, blending hands-on therapy with cutting-edge neurotechnology to help our patients push boundaries, regain independence, and rediscover what’s possible.
“I’ve been a patient at Hobbs Rehabilitation Winchester for five years but this was my first visit to the clinic in Bristol – it was amazing! The technology there is incredible and I left feeling so relieved that there is so much more available to me and my rehab than I previously thought.” – Eleanor, patient at Hobbs Rehabilitation INC
Integrating Neurotechnology into Holistic Therapy
Central to our approach is the integration of hands-on therapy with cutting-edge neurotechnology, which not only accelerates recovery but also empowers our patients to reclaim their independence and quality of life.
We know recovery is driven by neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself through learning and repetition, so our role as clinicians is to create opportunities for that to happen in the most effective way possible.
Neurotechnology helps us do just that. From devices that support walking and arm movement, to immersive virtual reality, our patients benefit from therapies that are:
- More interactive and engaging
- Easier to personalise and measure
- Designed to accelerate progress and build confidence
A Centre of Excellence in Neurotechnology:
As the UK’s first and only Reference Centre for Summit Medical and Scientific, the INC is home to some of the most advanced rehabilitation technology available:
- Andago: Provides dynamic body weight support by promoting natural movement patterns. This allows patients to walk with greater autonomy and confidently practice everyday tasks, such as making a cup of tea.
- C-Mill VR: A state-of-the-art treadmill system that combines balance, gait, and cognitive training. By simulating real-world challenges like obstacle avoidance and multitasking, it helps patients prepare for everyday mobility.
- ArmeoSpring Pro: A spring-based upper limb exoskeleton that adapts to the patient’s needs, by promoting arm and hand function recovery and enabling repetitive, goal-oriented movements.
“We are excited to showcase our clinical excellence here at the Intensive Neurotherapy Centre and this partnership represents a great opportunity to strengthen the range of neurotechnology on offer here.” – Alison Gomes Da Silva, Clinical Lead at Hobbs Rehabilitation Bristol
The partnership with Summit Medical and Scientific allows the INC to deliver an unparalleled neurotherapy experience; each device gives patients the chance to challenge themselves in new ways, while our clinical team ensures therapy stays meaningful, personal, and safe. Our patients have told us that their experience using the different neurotechnology devices from Summit Medical and Scientific has been very exciting and unique, having positively contributed to their rehabilitation progress.
Aligning Neurotechnology with Patient Needs
At Hobbs Rehabilitation, our role extends beyond delivering neurotechnology, we are actively contributing to its development and refinement, through our innovation branch, The MiNT Academy.
A notable example is our partnership with NeuroVirt, which began in 2021. Since then, clinicians and patients at the INC have been involved in extensive usability trials to test and evolve their gamified immersive VR solution. By embedding real patient experiences and clinical expertise into the design process, NeuroVirt was able to adapt its technology to meet meaningful therapeutic needs from the very beginning.
“Collaborating with clinical experts and patients at Hobbs Rehabilitation INC has provided unique insight that helped guide product development so that it meets patient and clinical needs from the initial development steps.” – Dr. Eve Gregoriou, Founder and CEO, NeuroVirt
This collaboration exemplifies how innovation can be shaped by those who use it most. Through patient-led feedback and clinical evaluation, NeuroVirt has grown from a prototype into a powerful rehabilitation tool that is now available internationally.
“You completely forget about what disability you have, it makes you realise that you can do more than you think!” – Joyce, stroke patient at Hobbs Rehabilitation, after a NeuroVirt session.
Hobbs Rehabilitation INC and The MiNT Academy are proud to have played a central role in this journey, ensuring that pioneering technologies are not only innovative, but also practical, effective, and truly life-changing for patients worldwide.
Inspiring the Future of Neurorehabilitation
In an ever-evolving neurorehabilitation landscape, Hobbs Rehabilitation INC leads with a progressive, research-driven, tech-enhanced, and patient-centred approach that is actively shaping the future of neurorehabilitation.
- Supporting research: Our team actively collaborates with universities and external organisations to advance the development of new rehabilitation and assistive technologies. For example, we have worked alongside the University of Winchester on studies into the G-Move Suit, helping develop the rehabilitation tool with valuable feedback from our patients and clinicians.
- Training the next generation: For the past three years, the INC has partnered with UWE Bristol to deliver study days for physiotherapy undergraduates. These hands-on sessions allow the next generation of future clinicians to experience the breadth of neurotechnology in action, working directly with patients and inspiring them to view neurotechnology as a critical therapy tool.
- Sharing knowledge globally: Our clinicians are research-active and regularly contribute to the international neurorehabilitation community, through global conferences, webinars, and development of online educational resources. These opportunities also foster collaborations with hospitals, clinics, universities, and industry partners worldwide, widening the impact of our work far beyond our Bristol centre.
“It is so rewarding to know that our work is influencing neurorehabilitation on a global scale. What started as a small project to improve outcomes for our own patients has now grown into the most fantastic opportunity we are all proud to be part of” – Alison Watt, Head of Clinical Operations at The MiNT Academy.
By championing innovation, advocating our diverse team and collaborative community, and embedding neurotechnology research and education into practice, the INC is not just delivering exceptional rehabilitation today, we are influencing future technology healthcare solutions that improve healthcare outcomes for tomorrow.