ALBUQUERQUE – November 26, 2025 – Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital (LURH) has acquired its first functional electrical stimulation machine, the Xcite2. This advanced device strengthens traditional therapy by promoting active muscle contractions, supporting natural, dynamic movement patterns, and providing real-time feedback to patients. Together, these features help improve muscle re-education and enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
“The Xcite2 allows me as a therapist to simulate functional activities over several muscle groups to allow someone with weakness to actually perform functional activities,” said Afton Hendershot, physical therapist at LURH. “I can place electrodes on a patient’s back, shoulder, bicep, tricep, wrist flexion and extension and then when I activate the machine, the back electrodes fire first helping the patient sit up straight, then the shoulder electrodes fire helping the patient to raise his arm, then the triceps fire to extend the arm and then wrist extensors fire to extend the wrist then the wrist flexion fires to hold on to a glass.”
With a wide variety of pre-programmed activities – from activities of daily living (ADLs) and hand strengthening to postural re-education and upper/lower mobility skills – nearly any individual with neurological weakness or paralysis will benefit from using Xcite2.
“LURH is proud to be the only hospital in New Mexico accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in six programs,” said Brian Miller, CEO of LURH. “The Xcite2 is part of our commitment to providing the highest quality of rehabilitation care to our patients. We celebrate their every victory and we are dedicated to offering them every chance to succeed.”
To learn more about LURH and its dedication to helping patients recover and become healthier after a major injury or illness, please visit lovelace.com. To make an outpatient appointment at a LURH clinic, please call 505.727.4725.
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Contact:
Whitney Alcantar, Lovelace Health System
Phone: 505-727-5503
Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital
Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital (LURH) provides state-of-the-art rehabilitation services for patients recovering from health care conditions such as stroke, brain injury and musculoskeletal disorders. LURH has earned more accreditations than any other rehabilitation hospital in the area and is the only hospital in New Mexico accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in six programs. With 62 acute inpatient rehabilitation beds, it provides a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, rehabilitation nursing and case management services. LURH and the UNM School of Medicine have teamed up to provide a residency program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to attract specialized health care providers to Albuquerque. LURH was recently named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in 2025 and was awarded Honorable Mention in 2024 in the Specialty Hospital Category for the Quest for Excellence Award by the New Mexico Hospital Association. To learn more about the state-of-the-art treatment options, innovative health care providers and award-winning quality initiatives at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital, visit lovelace.com.