What is a Gait Trainer used for?

A gait trainer is a mobility assistive device that helps an individual with motor disabilities walk unassisted. That individual may be someone who is learning to walk or improve their walking ability following a disability. A gait trainer is designed to offer support and postural alignment with more balance and weight-bearing than would a rollator or walker. It helps users in assisted walking or standing with greater independence. This mobility aid features optimal seat and trunk support to encourage a better and more natural gait. Using a gait trainer helps the user strengthen the normal gait patterns and their associated muscle groups. Browse our extensive range of products by top brands like Drive Medical, Pacific Rehab Inc, and Fabrication Enterprises today.

Benefits of Gait Training

Gait training has multi-fold benefits apart from offering a more active lifestyle. They are useful for those with limited mobility due to dysfunctional musculoskeletal or nervous system, brain damage, spina bifida, stroke, etc. Children born with a medical condition or developmental disabilities will find a gait trainer very helpful in their quest to be mobile. Gait trainer for children is designed to improve muscle strength and neuromotor control when walking. Use of gait trainers during physical therapy eases burden on the therapist and promotes motor skill gains through locomotor training during the walking practice. Other advantages include:

Improved socio-emotional and psychological aspects
Lower risk of pressure ulcers
Joint and bone development
Improvement in lung function
Prevention of contractures and increased motion
Improved visual awareness
Better bowel and bladder function
Improvement in blood circulation
Decreased constipation
Lower spasticity
Improved cognition growth with environmental exploration (special needs equipment)

How do Pediatric Gait Trainers Work?

Pediatric gait trainers provide support and stability to the child, allowing them to stand and walk with assistance. They have a frame that the child stands inside, and they have straps or harnesses that help to keep the child upright. The frame also has wheels, so the child can be pushed or pulled around.

How to select the correct Gait Trainer?

There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a gait trainer because to attain successful results, the trainer has to be the correct choice for you.

Size: It is important to buy the right size. If the size is not correct, the trainer will not be effective. There are basically three sizes in gait trainers – small for child, medium or medium-large for young adult and large or extra-large for an adult.
Specifications: Before buying one, first take measurement of the user from height to elbow and get the circumference of the chest and thigh. Also take the weight. Accordingly you can base your purchase on dimensions from the three sizes available. The Drive Hip Positioner And Pad For Trekker Gait Trainer has an adjustable seat which harnesses positioning of hip and pelvis and allows the user to shift weight from one leg to the other. The short length of straps is to assist in weight bearing or lengthen straps to use as a safety sling. The position of straps on handlebar will affect users pelvis position. A removable pad provides cushioned comfort.
Patient's health condition: Another important element to consider when buying is evaluating the user’s mobility status. The user can be ambulatory, which means can walk with some help, semi-ambulatory, which means needs help when walking, and non-ambulatory, which means needing total help for walking or standing. Basing your purchase on these considerations will help you buy the right mobility equipment.
Gait Frame: Another key element for choosing a gait trainer is to keep its framing in mind. Gait trainers have anterior and posterior framing. Anterior framing makes the equipment function very much like a walker in which the user holds the frame in front when walking. The movement forward is aided by ankle straps or prompts. A posterior framing has the user walking in front of the frame. He/she has ankle prompts tied to the feet and walks forward holding on to handlebars.

Our Best-Selling Gait Trainers

Drive Medical Moxie GT Gait Trainer

Pacific Rehab Meywalk 2000 Gait Trainer

Pacific Rehab Buddy Roamer Anterior Gait Trainer

Pacific Rehab Buddy Roamer Gait Trainer

Where to buy Gait Trainers online?

HPFY introduces a range of high quality, affordable Gait Trainers from top manufacturers in the industry. You can choose from full-frame gait trainers which involve a multi-position saddle for flexible adjustments and can be used in both the anterior and posterior positions. One of the best products available here is the Drive Ankle Prompts For Trekker Gait Trainer used for patients with spasticity, poor motor control, ataxia and excessive adduction. It is length adjustable, padded ankle straps maintain legs and/or feet in abduction and prevent scissoring. Its spring clips control stride length.