Align Clinic
  • Home
  • Locations
    • AC San Mateo, CA >
      • Inside AC SM
      • Our Practitioners >
        • Grant Wood
        • Steve Baum
        • Miguel Bustamante
      • Advanced Technology
      • Stanford Children's Health Partnership
      • Local Hotels
      • Contact Us
      • Team Members
    • AC Green Bay, WI >
      • Inside Wisconsin
      • Patient Testimonials
      • Contact Us
      • Emery Maloney
    • AC The Woodlands, TX
    • AC Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • The WCR Brace
    • Case Presentations >
      • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Switching to a WCR Brace
      • Adult Scoliosis Bracing
      • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
      • Treating Upper Thoracic Curves
    • Brace Articles
    • Patient Testimonials >
      • Grant's Testimonials
      • Paul's Testimonials
    • WCR Partner Testimonials
    • Grant's MS Thesis
    • Our Patients
    • Patients and Sports
    • Patients and Hobbies
    • Brace colors
    • Scoliosis Fashion
  • Patient Resources
    • WCR Brace Clinics >
      • USA Clinics
      • China Clinics
      • Canada Clinics
      • Australia Clinics
      • WCR Brace Clinic Finder
    • WCR Certified Practitioners
    • Professional Contacts & References
    • Forms & Insurance
    • Clinical Photos and X-rays
    • Scoliosis Rehab PT, CA
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Brace Clinic Calendar
    • Sosort 2022 - San Sebastian, Spain
    • Past Events >
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis 2018 >
        • Award for Advancements in the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis
      • Past USA WCR Clinics and Conferences
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment Of Scoliosis 2017
      • Shanghai Clinic
      • AAOP Meetings
      • BSPTS Schroth PT Training
    • Past SOSORT Conferences >
      • sosort2019 San Francisco - CA
      • SOSORT2018 Dubrovnik/Croatia
      • SOSORT2017 Lyon/France
      • SOSORT2016 Canada
    • Northeast Region Re-Align Clinic
  • Services
    • Scoliosis & Spine Online Learning
    • Prosthetics
    • Orthotics >
      • Pediatric Orthotics
      • Cranial Remolding Band
  • Hope's Embrace® Undershirts
  • Wall Grids
  • WCR Brace Fitting Evaluation
  • For PTs/Orthotists
  • WCR Measurement Order Form
  • Masterclass Conferences
  • Careers

The Align Clinic Blog
​ Your Home For Orthotic and Prosthetic Knowledge

What’s A Walkaide Device and How Can It Help You?

2/9/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
Have a tough time moving your feet or legs? Perhaps you’re suffering from neurological or muscular issues, which invite conditions like foot drop, resulting in affected legs movement. As a result, some people drag their feet while walking.
If left untreated, results include permanent immobility, chronic pain, and other life-threatening issues. A reliable solution is to wear a walkaide. Many doctors recommend walkaide for footdrop patients. Let’s look at what a walkaide is and how it functions.
What’s A Walkaide and What Does It Cure?
Walkaide is a functional electronic stimulation (FES) device to help patients facing walking issues due to foot drop.
Footdrop is caused due to:
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Brain Injury
  • Nerve Damage
Leaving these problems untreated can introduce a severe foot drop. Therefore, visiting the nearest Orthopedic surgeons is highly advisable. They’ll teach the problem's severity and how to handle it. 
Walkaide FES System Working ExplainedPatients should wear a walkaide device under the knee in the calf region. It uses sensor technology to analyze leg and foot movements and create a unique stimulation pattern for the patient.
It then sends Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) signal to the peroneal nerve, responsible for supplying sensation to the feet, legs, and toes. Such stimulation helps activate Tibialis Anterior (the muscle that helps lift the foot). Hence, your foot will function normally. 
5 Benefits of Using A Walkaide
Before purchasing a walkaide, let’s look at some of its advantages.
1. Wireless Connectivity
A walkaide device is wireless that helps the patient walk freely without tangling wires. It’s battery-operated, so you need to charge it before using it. 
2. Easy Operation
There’s no need to have technical knowledge or skills to use a walkaide. It’s compact, and anyone, be it a child or a senior citizen, can use it without help.
3. No Switch Required
Walkaide uses tilt sensors that signal your brain, which is needed to move. There’s no switch requirement as the patient can move freely without issues. 
4. Ensures Fast Walking Without Fatigue
Patients will notice a vast difference in walking before and after wearing a walkaide. Their movement will be better controlled to help them walk comfortably. They’ll be able to walk faster without getting tired after wearing walkaide.
5. Comfortable and Discreet
A walkaide is comfortable to wear. It won’t irritate the legs allowing patients to walk miles with it. The compact size means anyone can be easily concealed. 
Modes of Walkaide for Rehab
1. Tilt Mode
The patient can increase their sensorimotor abilities through tilt mode. It helps enhance the swinging power of legs and feet. Hence, you’ll notice an improved walking pace. 
2. Hand Mode
TheIn the hand mode, your hand mode enables shifting weight between extensor and flexor tones. Also, during initial gait training, you can learn to control your stepping and swing reflections. 
3. Heel Mode
The sudden weight transfer between the muscles while sitting and standing is painful for patients suffering from foot drop. The heel mode helps train your legs to function smoothly during such activities. Try walking in parallel bars to improve your motor skills.
4. Exercise Mode
You can gain muscle strength through exercise mode. Also, it’ll help improve blood circulation in your legs. Use this mode during home exercises for quick improvement. 
Difference Between Aalkaide and AFO
Both AFO and walkaide help solve immobility in the leg or foot of a patient. Still, there’s a massive difference between the two devices, which we’ll cover below. 
Area Of Use
Walkaide
A walkaide is used under the knees over the calf. It sends electrical signals to the nervous system that helps improve the movement of and legs. 
AFO
AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthosis) is worn on the ankle area. It comes in a unique L-shaped design, whose braces are available in a Swedish brace, carbon fiber brace, a plastic brace, and more. 
Walkaide & AFO During Gait Cycle
Walkaide
During the Gait cycle (when one foot comes in contact with the ground periodically), the walkaide uses an electric stimulus to relieve your foot in case of foot drop.
AFO
AFO doesn’t use the FES system to work. It supports the foot during the gait cycle and prevents it from dragging.
Final Thoughts
A walkaide is a blessing for footdrop patients or any other issues that cause immobility in the legs or foot. A person should seek immediate medical help if facing any walking issues.
Walking issues can also occur in children, but that doesn’t stop in their lives or restrict them from doing daily tasks. Equipment like walkaide eases their lives as much as possible. 
Consult your physician before buying a device. If you’re unsatisfied with a walkaide, use an AFO. Learn more about AFOs on the blog here.

​
1 Comment
رعاية مسنين بالمنزل link
3/1/2022 02:43:46 am

This is a really great post! Thanks so much for sharing!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
San Mateo, California
700 S Claremont St
Suite #105
San Mateo, CA 94402 
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
​Phone: (650) 375-2231
Fax: (650) 627-4632
Green Bay, Wisconsin
445 Cardinal Lane
Suite #110
Green Bay, WI 54313
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
Phone: (920) 940-5277
Fax: (844) 308-8462


Houston, Texas
1001 Medical Plaza Drive,
​Suite #130
The Woodlands, TX  77380
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
​Phone: (346) 770-2970
Fax: (281) 419-1615
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida Medical Center - North
4900 W. Oakland Park Blvd,
Suite #105
​Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313
attention only by appointment
Phone:
(920) 940-5277
Fax: (844) 308-8462
Photos used under Creative Commons from shixart1985, wuestenigel
  • Home
  • Locations
    • AC San Mateo, CA >
      • Inside AC SM
      • Our Practitioners >
        • Grant Wood
        • Steve Baum
        • Miguel Bustamante
      • Advanced Technology
      • Stanford Children's Health Partnership
      • Local Hotels
      • Contact Us
      • Team Members
    • AC Green Bay, WI >
      • Inside Wisconsin
      • Patient Testimonials
      • Contact Us
      • Emery Maloney
    • AC The Woodlands, TX
    • AC Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • The WCR Brace
    • Case Presentations >
      • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Switching to a WCR Brace
      • Adult Scoliosis Bracing
      • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
      • Treating Upper Thoracic Curves
    • Brace Articles
    • Patient Testimonials >
      • Grant's Testimonials
      • Paul's Testimonials
    • WCR Partner Testimonials
    • Grant's MS Thesis
    • Our Patients
    • Patients and Sports
    • Patients and Hobbies
    • Brace colors
    • Scoliosis Fashion
  • Patient Resources
    • WCR Brace Clinics >
      • USA Clinics
      • China Clinics
      • Canada Clinics
      • Australia Clinics
      • WCR Brace Clinic Finder
    • WCR Certified Practitioners
    • Professional Contacts & References
    • Forms & Insurance
    • Clinical Photos and X-rays
    • Scoliosis Rehab PT, CA
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Brace Clinic Calendar
    • Sosort 2022 - San Sebastian, Spain
    • Past Events >
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis 2018 >
        • Award for Advancements in the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis
      • Past USA WCR Clinics and Conferences
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment Of Scoliosis 2017
      • Shanghai Clinic
      • AAOP Meetings
      • BSPTS Schroth PT Training
    • Past SOSORT Conferences >
      • sosort2019 San Francisco - CA
      • SOSORT2018 Dubrovnik/Croatia
      • SOSORT2017 Lyon/France
      • SOSORT2016 Canada
    • Northeast Region Re-Align Clinic
  • Services
    • Scoliosis & Spine Online Learning
    • Prosthetics
    • Orthotics >
      • Pediatric Orthotics
      • Cranial Remolding Band
  • Hope's Embrace® Undershirts
  • Wall Grids
  • WCR Brace Fitting Evaluation
  • For PTs/Orthotists
  • WCR Measurement Order Form
  • Masterclass Conferences
  • Careers