BeAble Health gamifies stroke rehab with ArmAble | Fusion - WeRIndia

Stroke recovery often demands relentless repetition, especially for arm and hand movement.

Hyderabad-based startup BeAble Health is tackling this challenge through smart, game-based rehabilitation devices designed to improve engagement and outcomes.

Founded in 2019 by CEO Habib Ali and CMSO Sreehari KG, BeAble Health focuses on upper limb recovery after stroke.

Ali, a biomedical engineer with degrees from Manipal University and IIT Hyderabad, built the company after closely observing gaps in physiotherapy care.

The team identified that arm and hand recovery lags behind leg rehabilitation because it requires 300-600 daily repetitions to stimulate neuroplasticity. However, patients tire easily, and therapists struggle to deliver that intensity manually.

To solve this, BeAble developed ArmAble, a gamified rehabilitation device priced at around ₹8 lakh. The system converts repetitive therapy movements into interactive games based on familiar actions, such as swatting mosquitoes.

These culturally intuitive motions encourage natural arm use while keeping patients motivated. Importantly, the device promotes active participation rather than passive robotic movement, which often limits recovery gains.

ArmAble also supports bilateral training, where the healthy hand guides the weaker one. This coordinated movement enhances neural recovery and improves functional outcomes.

The device runs on an integrated software platform called BeOne, which tracks movement data in real time.

Sensors capture motion patterns, and an AI-powered wrapper processes the raw data into clinically meaningful insights.

The system then adjusts game difficulty dynamically, ensuring exercises remain challenging yet achievable. Therapists receive simplified performance analytics to tailor treatment plans effectively.

BeAble operates on a B2B model and has deployed ArmAble in over 50 hospitals and rehabilitation centres, including Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences and Ramiah Hospital. So far, the company has generated approximately ₹3.5 crore in revenue.

Clinical validation has been central to its strategy. In a multi-centre randomised trial, patients using ArmAble showed 39% better recovery and a 9.1-point improvement on standard stroke scales compared to conventional physiotherapy. The company also holds patents in India and the US.

Looking ahead, BeAble plans to launch ArmAble Mini, a compact home-use version priced at ₹2-3 lakh, and T-Able, a modular occupational therapy table.

Together, these products aim to create a connected rehabilitation ecosystem powered by the BeOne platform.

Image Credit: Beablehealth Website Screenshot

Image Reference: https://www.beablehealth.com/