What is PANat

What is the PANat approach?

A Proactive Way to Support Movement and Recovery

PANat stands for Pro-Active approach to Neurorehabilitation integrating air splints and other therapy tools

PANat is an active way of helping people who have lost movement after a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions and limitations.

The goal is to help you use your affected arm or leg again, step by step — not just to move, but to move with purpose in daily activities.

PANat can be used in all stages of recovery – from the early hospital phase to long-term rehabilitation. It helps prevent complications and gives you the best chance to regain function and independence in everyday life.

PANat uses special therapy tools — Urias® Johnstone air splints and PANat-Laptool® — to help people move safely and actively, even when their strength is limited.
The goal is to help the brain and body reconnect, rebuild movement, and bring those movements back into everyday life.

The PANat concept was inspired by Margaret Johnstone (1919–2006), who first began using the Urias® Johnstone Air Splints  in rehabilitation.

Today, PANat combines her ideas with new scientific knowledge about how the brain learns movement, creating a treatment approach that helps recovery from the earliest stage.

From Exercise to Everyday Life

The goal of PANat is to help you take what you learn in therapy back into daily life — dressing, cooking, walking, working, or doing the things that matter to you.

We don’t just aim to make the arm or leg move — we aim to help you participate fully in your life again. That means being able to act, communicate, and enjoy your roles at home, at work, and with the people around you.

How PANat Tools Work

  • Urias® Johnstone air splints  gently support your affected arm or leg with airpressure, making it possible to move safely and with better control.
  • PANat-Laptool® can be used alone or together with the Urias® Johnstone Air Splints

The tools makes training safe, structured, and less dependent on direct hands-on help from the therapist — so you can practice more independently and with confidence.

The Five Core Elements of PANat

 

  1. Focus on the Weaker Side
    Training focuses on using your affected arm or leg, not just the stronger one.
    This helps prevent stiffness, pain, and “learned non-use,” and promotes real recovery.
  2. Use It and Improve It
    The brain can change through practice — this is called neuroplasticity.
    Repeating meaningful movements helps your brain reconnect with the affected side.
  3. Learn Through Practice
    PANat uses movement science to help you learn to move more naturally again.
    You practice real, goal-oriented activities with guidance and feedback.
  4. Stay Motivated
    You’re an active part of your own recovery.
    You help set your goals, choose exercises you enjoy, and celebrate your progress — sometimes in groups where encouragement and fun make a real difference.
  5. Train Independently
    With Urias® Johnstone air splints and PANat-Laptool®, you can safely practice on your own.


The more you repeat, the stronger your movements become, and the more confident you feel.