Personal Gait Training System

[angel7]

I've given quite a few of our members the following info. Others have also asked for this info. I need to warn all of you not to use the industrial harness from Maine Anti-Gravity. This harness has hurt my shoulder given it supports only under your arms. Instead go to www.e-zwalker.com (http://www.e-zwalker.com) and find a harness that looks like theirs.

Deb

Another Care/Cure member suggested I buy an Proform Ellipital trainer instead of a treadmill. This allows you to use your arms to move your legs. I bought the Proform 505S for $330. Website is www.buychoice.com/buychoice/statics/ellipitals (http://www.buychoice.com/buychoice/statics/ellipitals). Obviously this will only work for quads that have arm strength and paras. For quads w/o arm strength use a treadmill.

Regarding the hoist, my fiance built one. Basically it is just a modified engine hoist. You hook the safety harness up to the hoist and raise up your body until you aren't supporting all your weight. Look at websites that show gait training and have someone modify the engine hoist to match the lift. I'll post a picture of the one Wayne built as soon as my new harness comes in.

Let me know if you need more info.


Debbie7

[MADPRODUCER]

Originally posted by Debbie7:

I've given quite a few of our members the following info. Others have also asked for this info. I need to warn all of you not to use the industrial harness from Maine Anti-Gravity. This harness has hurt my shoulder given it supports only under your arms. Instead go to http://www.e-zwalker.com and find a harness that looks like theirs.

Deb

Another Care/Cure member suggested I buy an Proform Ellipital trainer instead of a treadmill. This allows you to use your arms to move your legs. I bought the Proform 505S for $330. Website is http://www.buychoice.com/buychoice/statics/ellipitals. Obviously this will only work for quads that have arm strength and paras. For quads w/o arm strength use a treadmill.

Regarding the hoist, my fiance built one. Basically it is just a modified engine hoist. You hook the safety harness up to the hoist and raise up your body until you aren't supporting all your weight. Look at websites that show gait training and have someone modify the engine hoist to match the lift. I'll post a picture of the one Wayne built as soon as my new harness comes in.

Let me know if you need more info.


Debbie7

hi , i couldnt find it. ? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Snowman]

Debbie

We are currently using both the Maine Anti-Gravity System and a harness from Biodex. Both work very well for our clients. If the Maine harness is properly fitted it should not ride up under the arms, however, we have found that it is uncomfortable for our female clients as it constricts the chest too much.

Eric Harness,CSCS
Project Walk (http://www.projectwalk.org)

[Arturo]

The harness is utterly critical. The best locomotion harness comes from Germany. Don't even think about buying another type of harness if your serious about proper locomotion therapy.

http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/wernig/harness.htm

http://graulab.tamu.edu/NewsItems/NY-Times.Article.html

HARNESS FOR REHABILITATION Security and body weight support during rehabilitation treatment

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This harness was specially developed for "Laufband" therapy with body weight support and is well suited for most severly paralyzed patients not capable of standing.

It can be used in different disabilities like:

Spinal cord damage (incomplete para- and tetraplegia)
Hemiplegia following stroke
Brain damage
Other CNS diseases like MS, neurodegenerative diseases
Peripheral (flaccid) paralyzes including Guillain-Barré-Syndrome, Cauda lesion
Rehabilitation of orthopedic diseases
General reconvalescence and weakness due to geriatric conditions
This harness provides high variability due to the separation into two parts (chest and pelvis parts) allowing tilting of the body.
Chest part alone may be used as safety device for patients who do not any longer need body weight support.

Adjustments of posture can be made with the harness fixed and under load. Even under conditions of total body weight support during locomotion no punctual pressure occurs.

Rump stabilization is maintained by specially designed horizontal and vertical straps. Good lateral stabilization due to proportions of the pelvis part.

This harness is available in 3 sizes (small, medium and large).

Harnesses for children are also available.

http://www.bonmed.com/

Please note: Buying or using a cheaper harness could result in pressure sores or rashes. The horizontal and vertical straps are designed for female and male patients comfortably.
The Lokomat harness was also designed by Brigitte Wernig.


[This message was edited by Arturo on Oct 08, 2002 at 01:20 PM.]

[This message was edited by Arturo on Oct 08, 2002 at 03:44 PM.]

[angel7]

Mad,

What couldn't you find?

Deb

[antiquity]

Eric and Arturo, thanks for the additional info.

[angel7]

Thanks for the info Arturo. I emailed Germany and I think it will cost $673 US converted from EURO dollars. I'm hoping they will be able to take a credit card. Also, regarding the message I got from Project Walk regarding the harness I bought from Maine Anti-gravity it still doesn't work for me. My PT tried it as did my fiance qnd it kept slipping up under our shoulders. Maybe it is the way we are wearing it. If others want to give it a try then I say go for it. I would like it if you could post a picure of one of your clients wearing one at Project Walk.

Thanks,

Deb

[Arturo]

I understand your concerns regarding safety, comfort, slipping, pressure sores and rashes. I've tried 6 different harnesses during the last 2 years including biodex, litegait, etc. I am sure you'll be happy with Wernig's harness. By the way, Brigitte Wernig designed wedding gowns for Jacqueline Kennedy Onnasis and Audrey Hepburn when she was younger.

http://www.bonmed.com/

Tallness is of little relevance.

Size Waist Body weight
1 28" approximately Up to 120 pounds
2 40" approximately Up to 160 pounds
3 More More

Medium size (2) may be regarded as standard.

For the reason of optimal fit during BWS the upper and lower parts of the harness are separated, allowing eventually mix of different sizes depending on the figure of the patient.

[This message was edited by Arturo on Oct 09, 2002 at 06:32 PM.]

[This message was edited by Arturo on Oct 09, 2002 at 06:33 PM.]

[angel7]

Thanks again Arturo. I just ordered the harness.

Deb

[Mike C]

Deb,

Is this the link you mean... http://www.buychoice.com/landing.cfm/237,ellipticals,XX

I take it you mean the device on the bottom of the page?

[Mike C]

What I have always wondered: does the EasyStand 6000 glider
qualify as a gait trainer. Granted, this thing is expensive,
but regardless of the price, does it activate the "walking reflex"
or not?
http://www.easystand.com/products/6000.html
The site says it can be used to help stroke patients
to re-learn how to walk. So what´s up with SCI?
I guess they don´t have enough qualified data on
their machine to boast of such a capability for those with SCI.
The biggest advantage I see in this machine is that you don´t
need a PT or a harness.
Who out there has some know how about this? I think I´ll write
the APTA and ask them for an opinion.

[angel7]

Yes Mike that is the one I bought. My hope is to start out on that one then switch to a treadmill.

Deb

[MADPRODUCER]

Originally posted by Debbie7:

Mad,

What couldn't you find?

Deb the link for the machine you purchased. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[dogger]

i now have my elliptical trainer and would welcome input on how to tailor an exercise regime on this machine please ? i am a C5/6 incomplete who has been walking for 11years and my aim is to correct bad gait habits i have acquired and improve my proprioception/walking ability .i am not using a hoist . i would imagine the idea would be to do as many repetions as possible . looking forward to any information particularly from any SCI members or PT's who are involved in this type of program.

thank you
dogger

every day i wake up is a good one .

[This message was edited by dogger on Dec 19, 2002 at 02:30 AM.]

[This message was edited by dogger on Dec 19, 2002 at 02:31 AM.]

[This message was edited by dogger on Dec 19, 2002 at 02:35 AM.]

[Christopher Paddon]

"every day i wake up is a good one"

DA note this: This man's too happy - he doesn't need a cure

[dogger]

.

[This message was edited by dogger on Dec 19, 2002 at 04:00 AM.]

[Christopher Paddon]

it was just a joke, may be a bad one as it happens

[angel7]

Dogger,

I remember that the Lokomat system saw the best results with 4 hours a day. However these people only had slight walking ability. I think if you work up to 1 hour everyday you will see results.

Good Luck,

Deb

[dogger]

Debbie7 , thank you for your reply . i am interested to know if if i should aim to be doing say 1 hour in a continuous session or maybe 4 lots of 15 mins with a small break in between . also regarding the tension on the machine , which is more important , to be able to do long periods at light tension or doing periods of heavy tensions ? my thoughts are that the highest number of repetitions are important so as to ''relearn'' the central pattern generators .

thank you
dogger

every day i wake up is a good one .

[angel7]

Dogger,

Less tension more reps. I also think the longer you do it each day continuous is better than shorter times more often.

Deb

[Sue Pendleton]

Originally posted by Mike C:

Who out there has some know how about this? I think I´ll write
the APTA and ask them for an opinion.

Mike, I tried the Easy Stand Glider and it's not for gait training for SCI. It's an excellent aerobic work out if you have triceps and grip or if no grip they can modify the handlebars for you. It not only provides standing exercise but makes the hips move at the correct joint union and can keep the trunk muscles, especially the obliques, in great shape. I didn't buy it because my one tricep still doesn't have enough umph to do the main push on its own and it's difficult, to me, to do the cross country skiing pattern without a LOT of hip flexion strength. I have 4+, 5 strength in both quads and still couldn't get the hang of trying to get the leg part to go forward with a toe point and quadricepts kick-extension. I'm looking for a good non-FES bike that can be pedaled by the feet only or can add in arms if the legs get tired. The Glider would be a great work out and I know Dmitri has one and can go for a long time on it. It doesn't provide the correct heel-toe patterning for walking though.

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."

[Leo]

Sue,

Check this out,

http://www.exnflex.com/EF250spec.html

[Sue Pendleton]

http://www.scifit.com/eu_pro2.html

Thanks Leo. I've been looking at a version of the above without the added seat. With the high boots it keeps the knees in proper alignment and would let me pedal alone backwards and use my arms to help while pedaling forward until my hamstrings are stronger. I'll look into the one you mention. I really don't need the power option but I like the biofeedback attachment.

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."

[Chris Chappell]

Does anyone have a local connection for the www.bonmed.com (http://www.bonmed.com) harness. Or have you ordered the harness over the web?

Or any other harness suppliers that you can recommend?

Fortitudine Vincimus
(Through endurance we conquer)

[angel7]

Chris,

The harnss that has worked best for me I bought from www.grainger.com (http://www.grainger.com) - confined space harness - medium - 10810 - $158.15. Arturo has the phone number for BONMED. They run about 680.00.

Deb

[Arturo]

Chris,

If you want a local connection you could try WOODWAY USA http://www.woodway.com/. You can also expect to pay double for the harness instead of going directly to the manufacture of the harness. www.bonmed.com (http://www.bonmed.com)

Woodway has contributed its technical know-how to the continual progress and further innovation of Locomotion Therapy. In cooperation with Professor A. Wernig between the years of 1991 and 1993, the Woodway LOKO System® was developed. The LOKO System® is an open, flexible and manual locomotion therapy system. Patients are led through this therapy under the guidance and assistance of therapists who manipulate their movements.

Next, in a true milestone for Woodway, an automated form of Locomotion Therapy was achieved through a joint venture with Hocoma of Switzerland. The resulting LOKO Center® brings the manual therapy to a whole new level by automating the therapy process. This therapy system is called the Lokomat®.

[Snowman]

Project Walk now has 2 of the Bonmed harnesses and we have found them to be the most comfortable and supportive of all the harnesses we have tried. We are now able to have everyone of our clients use the gait trainer. From our smallest waist (~ 20in.) to our largest (~ 42+in.). We paid ~ $680.00 apiece.

(Maybe next time they'll give us a discount for this recommendation http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif )



http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Eric Harness,CSCS
Project Walk (http://www.projectwalk.org)

[Chris Chappell]

I e-mailed bonmed but haven't gotten a response? Do they speak English if I call them?

Before I go to woodway any suggestions?

Fortitudine Vincimus
(Through endurance we conquer)

[Arturo]

Chris,

I am sure you will get an e-mail response in English when Brigitte Wernig returns from vacation.

[etexley]

In my experience, the real problem with treadmill walking is hiking my hip. This is the function that gets my foot off the floor so that I can flex my leg forward. If I spend all of my time doing this with my arms, my arms will tire in a very short time. This isn't the intention of practicing walking.

This is really the muscle that I need to isolate and make work in order to making walking in braces practical...this and hip flexors.

Eric Texley

[lway2002]

Chris,
Here is the reply I received :"the distributor for United States and Canada is BONMED Bonn.
Please excuse the delayed response due to vacancies.
With warmest wishes,
BONMED
Brigitte Wernig"

[BMOC]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sue Pendleton:

"I'm looking for a good non-FES bike that can be pedaled by the feet only or can add in arms if the legs get tired."

Sue,

FYI - I'm in the design stages of a combination hand-bike/foot-bike that you actually use as a "bike." The final product will allow users to pedal with their arms to move their legs or vice versa. The product will also allow users to remove the foot crank if desired. The prototype will (should) be completed by this summer. Again, this is not a stationary hand ergometer or combination exercise cycle...it is an actual "bike" (3-wheeled) that you would use for exercise, transportation, and enjoyment. Stay tuned if you're interested.

NEW WEBSITE FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS!! www.misportsunlimited.com (http://www.misportsunlimited.com)

[Chris Chappell]

bump, great thread.

[Chris Chappell]

bump. Again, check the date of topic.

These discussions aren't new and should be reviewed by newer members concerned about budget, access, etc. in relation to their exercise programs.