KUKA-powered rehabilitation robot brings the benefits of hippotherapy to clinical practice without horses

KUKA-powered rehabilitation robot brings the benefits of hippotherapy to clinical practice without horses

(IN BRIEF) KUKA, in partnership with Austrian company intelligent motion, has introduced hirob, a rehabilitation robot designed to replicate the therapeutic benefits of hippotherapy without horses. Using a KR QUANTEC robot, the system mimics the precise walking motion of a horse’s back, with customizable intensity and movement forms to match individual therapy needs. Patients interactively respond to the robot’s impulses while seated on an ergonomic saddle seat, helping to stabilize the torso, improve balance, reduce spasms, and stimulate neuroplasticity to relearn motor functions. hirob supports patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions, while also addressing issues such as pelvic floor weakness and incontinence. With its quick setup and adaptability, hirob offers hospitals an rehabilitation centers a standardized, evidence-based method to integrate robotic hippotherapy into patient care.

(PRESS RELEASE) AUGSBURG, 19-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — KUKA technology is at the core of a new approach to hippotherapy, making it possible to deliver the benefits of therapeutic riding without the need for horses. Together with Austrian company intelligent motion, the rehabilitation robot hirob has been developed specifically for clinical use to help patients regain mobility and independence after serious illness or injury.

The hirob device integrates a KR QUANTEC robot from KUKA, which precisely reproduces the walking motion of a horse’s back. This accuracy allows the system to replicate the essential movement patterns of traditional hippotherapy while offering the flexibility to adjust intensity, speed, and the form of movement—such as tilting or circling of the pelvis—based on individual therapeutic requirements.

Patients sit on a saddle-shaped ergonomic seat and must actively respond to the robot’s impulses. This interactive training strengthens the torso, mobilizes the pelvis, reduces spasms, and improves balance. The stimulation of muscles also promotes neuroplasticity in the brain, helping patients to relearn motor skills that may have been lost due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis. It can also improve symptoms linked to pelvic floor weakness and incontinence.

“By precisely replicating the movement impulses of a horse, hirob enables us to promote motor learning through sensory stimulation and activation of central nervous control processes. It represents a standardizable, evidence-based method that expands the options in neurological and musculoskeletal rehabilitation,” said Lara Leutgeb, research associate at intelligent motion.

Traditionally, hippotherapy involves careful patient preparation, mounting, and guidance on horseback at walking pace to improve balance, coordination, and posture. With hirob, these same benefits are now available in rehabilitation and physiotherapy centers using robotic precision.

“What impresses me most about hirob is its fast transfer and setup time. It can be adapted very quickly and precisely to each patient. This enables therapy to begin at an early stage, with speed and range of motion adjusted to the patient’s condition,” added Dr. Andreas Mayr, Head of Therapy at Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl.

By merging robotics with medical science, KUKA and intelligent motion are opening a new chapter in rehabilitation—bringing the proven benefits of hippotherapy into clinical practice with innovative, reliable technology.

Media Contact:

Teresa Scheunert
Spokesperson Business
KUKA Aktiengesellschaft,
Zugspitzstraße 140, 86165 Augsburg, Germany
Tel: +49 821 797-5276

SOURCE: KUKA