ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF REHABILITATION
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals is a hospital system located in Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska. We treat adults and children from across the nation who have experienced brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes, neurological disorders and other traumatic events. It is our mission, not only to provide world-class rehabilitation care, but also to advance our industry through scientific discovery and innovation.
Madonna Research Institute
Imbedded on both campuses are research institute labs where researchers collaborate with patients and clinicians to conduct groundbreaking research studies and develop innovative devices, therapies and interventions that facilitate the medical rehabilitation process. Our team includes researchers with expertise in rehabilitation sciences, biomechanics, health psychology and nutrition sciences.
Innovations In Action
Our pioneering research results in new technologies and rehabilitation treatments that benefit patients at Madonna and elsewhere.
Madonna First Hope / Curbell AC20
First developed by the Madonna Research Institute to promote greater independence for patients with mobility limitations, the Madonna First Hope system is now available for use in hospitals across the country under the new name, Assistive Control Adapter, or AC20. Madonna partnered with Curbell Medical to enhance the First Hope concept into a new design and intuitive interface. The AC20 medical device hones in on each patient’s abilities (i.e. a sip/puff of air, wiggle of a toe, muscle twitch) to allow them to control their environment, from controlling the TV to switching on the lights to calling the nurse. The AC20 is a medical-grade device per the FDA. Its intuitive design meets full regulatory compliance including UL 1069. Curbell Medical is manufacturing and distributing the system, which is now available for individuals at rehabilitation facilities, intensive care units, acute care hospitals, long term care settings and skilled nursing facilities across the globe.
Madonna ICARE by SportsArt
The Intelligently Controlled Assistive Rehabilitation Elliptical trainer was developed by Madonna under a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to help physically challenged individuals and those with chronic conditions regain or retain their walking ability and levels of physical fitness.
The ICARE integrates a motor that can assist users to train in either the forward or reverse directions at variable speeds. Different levels of assistance means a user can override the motor by simply pushing at a faster speed than the device is set. The ICARE also features four different hand hold options that adjust to the user’s unique needs. The foot pedals include straps that can be used to anchor the user’s foot to the pedal, a useful feature that helps sustain a consistent position on the pedal.
Complete Adaptive Hydration System
Patients with limited mobility are able to stay well-hydrated thanks to an invention by Madonna’s Research Institute. a collaboration with patients, clinicians and Research team members, the Madonna Hydration System. The product incorporates universal mounting capabilities, a flexible extender and a specially-made director that attaches to the mouthpiece allowing patients to get a hands-free drink of water with ease.
Research Institute Team
Recently Published Research
- Biomechanics
- Lower extremity muscle activity during reactive balance differs between adults with chronic traumatic brain injury and controls
- Balance assessment with decreased base of support for children with disabilities
- Perturbation-based estimation of within-stride metabolic cost
- Revascularization Enhances Walking Dynamics in patients with Peripheral Artery Disease
- How Gait Nonlinearities in Individuals Without Known Pathology Describe Metabolic Cost During Walking Using Artificial Neural Network and Multiple Linear Regression
- Modeling Dual-Task Performance: Identifying Key Predictors Using Artificial Neural networks
- Predicting lower body joint moments and electromyography signals using ground reaction forces during walking and running: An artificial neural network approach
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Health Psychology
Meet our Brain Injury and DoC Program Manager
Brooke Murtaugh, OTD, OTR/L, CBIST, BT-C, is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of brain injury and burn rehabilitation expertise. Since 2006, she has specialized in treating burn survivors and individuals with severe traumatic brain injuries, particularly those with disorders of consciousness (DoC), at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals.
As Madonna’s brain injury program manager and burn program leader, Brooke is dedicated to advancing rehabilitation care. She has presented at major events like World Coma Day 2022 and the IBIA World Congress on Brain Injury 2023, sharing global best practices. A Certified Brain Injury Specialist and National Trainer, she is a recognized leader in the field.
Additionally, Brooke was recently appointed lead author for the rehabilitation section of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) for the American College of Surgeons, highlighting her influence in shaping care standards. She also serves on CARF’s Disorders of Consciousness panel, helping establish new care standards for patients with severe brain injuries.
Great Plains Brain Injury Collaborative
In September, Madonna and the University of Nebraska Medical Center embarked on a research collaboration to bring together clinicians, researchers, industry innovators and community organizations from across the Midwest to launch the Great Plains Brain Injury Collaborative. This cross-functional group aims to advance scientific discovery and innovation that will improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals and families affected by brain injuries.