Wellington families caring for children with mobility challenges are set to gain access to world-leading therapy technology, with a special pop-up clinic bringing the Southern Hemisphere’s only Trexo robotic walker service to the capital.
The Centre of Movement says the limited-time clinic will provide intensive paediatric therapy programmes designed for children living with neurological and developmental conditions, including cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
For local boy Raika and his whānau, the clinic represents a life-changing opportunity much closer to home.
Raika, who lives with HIE and cerebral palsy, has spent years travelling long distances to Rotorua to receive specialist therapy support.
His mother, Letava, says having the service come to Wellington is emotionally significant for the whole family.
“This is the first time we don’t have to leave our home to give Raika these opportunities,” she says.
“It’s hard to explain how much that means to us. Having the Centre of Movement come to Wellington means the whole family can attend and see Raika in the Trexo in person and not through video recordings.”
The clinic will offer a range of advanced therapies delivered by a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Exercise Physiologists.
Specialist treatments include Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), Universal Exercise Unit therapy — also known as the Spider Cage — Task-Specific Electrical Stimulation (TASES), and the Trexo robotic walker itself.
The Trexo is a wearable robotic gait trainer that supports assisted walking and mobility training for children who would otherwise struggle to walk independently.
Centre of Movement Exercise Physiologist Sam Baxter says the technology allows therapists to deliver consistent movement training that cannot easily be replicated manually.
“The Trexo helps guide children through a natural walking pattern, which is incredibly important for building strength, coordination, and establishing new neural pathways,” Baxter says.
For many families, the emotional impact is just as important as the physical benefits.
“For some children and their families, this is the very first time they get to experience walking,” Baxter says.
“That moment is incredibly powerful. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities.”
The Centre of Movement says outreach clinics are aimed at reducing barriers faced by families forced to travel long distances for specialised care.
“We absolutely love delivering these pop-up clinics,” Baxter says.
“Being able to reach communities and families who may not otherwise access our services is exactly why we do what we do.”
The Wellington clinic also marks a significant step toward improving access to innovative paediatric therapy services across Aotearoa, helping more tamariki receive consistent care closer to home.
For families like Raika’s, the arrival of the Trexo technology in Wellington is more than just therapy — it is hope, inclusion, and opportunity.
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