WalkAide
The WalkAide® helps those living with drop foot to walk better.
The WalkAide® is a revolutionary neuroprosthesis about the size of a cell phone that is worn just below the knee. It artificially stimulates muscle to raise the foot at the right time during walking. It does this by harnessing the use of functional electrical stimulation to re-create movement that is often lost in cases of upper motor neuron deficits such as multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke (Post CVA), cerebral palsy (CP), incomplete spinal cord injury (ISPI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
WalkAide® users have the freedom to walk with or without footwear, up and down steps, and even side-to-side with confidence knowing they will receive a precise, consistent signal to move the foot exactly when needed.
The WalkAide® can help:
- Improve walking speed with less fatigue
- Reduce atrophy
- Improve muscle condition, bone density, and circulation
- Improve gait quality
- Promote neuroplasticity
- Increase self confidence and independence
Schedule a free evaluation.
If you or someone you know suffers from the debilitating effects of drop foot, contact us to schedule your complimentary evaluation.
We can evaluate and test for functional foot ankle movement through mini electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. If the person is found to be a good candidate for the WalkAide, in home trial fittings are available and can be very helpful before committing to the purchase of the WalkAide®.
How does the WalkAide® work?
The WalkAide® system uses a microprocessor controlled tilt sensor and accelerometer in concert with functional electrical stimulation to analyze movement of the lower leg. Through gait evaluation and customized programming provided by a certified prosthetist, gentle electrical impulses produced by the WalkAide® pass through electrodes to stimulate appropriate nerves of the lower leg. These nerves activate muscles to raise the foot at the appropriate time during the gait cycle to recreate a much more natural and efficient walking pattern.
How is the WalkAide® applied?
The WalkAide® is roughly the size of a small cell phone. The Biflex cuff is used to suspend the WalkAide and is placed on the limb just below the knee. Because it must be always be applied in the same place, your certified prosthetist will show you how to attach it.
It’s fairly easy to put on, as it was ergonomically designed so that it can be applied and removed with one hand, which is very helpful for those affected with impaired muscle coordination.
It runs off a single AA battery and sits in a self-contained cuff with two electrical leads and two electrodes. Electrodes need to be replaced monthly.
What types of cases are not appropriate for the WalkAide?
People with the following peripheral nervous system conditions will not likely benefit from WalkAide:
- Guillain Barre
- traumatic accidents to the leg
- sciatica
- peripheral neuropathy
- spinal stenosis
- post polio syndrome
*people with pacemakers or who suffer from seizures should not use the WalkAide unless indicated specifically by their physician.