If a user is going to recover, everyone has to work
together, and work hard. Recovery is possible.
Success Stories
The right exercise, for the right duration, at the right
time, can promote neurotrophic growth factors. Therapists
and users should try different things, until they find the
method which works.
The most commonly reported goal that clients in
rehabilitative programs report is to be able to walk again.
In these video stories you will see how therapy
opportunities are increasing for many who are using the
Second Step Gait Harness System.
The therapists working with these users believe that
recovery is a better approach than adaptation.Throughout our website, you will see how the GHS is
different from everything else you have seen, increasing
your rehabilitation and recovery opportunities with proven
results, empowering both the caregiver and the user.
Robert- Walks Outdoors for the
First Time since his TBI
Currently, Robert uses his Gait Harness
System II at his residential adult foster
home daily. Because the GHSII is portable
and easy to move, Robert's caregiver
staff takes the GHSII with Robert on grocery
shopping and other errands, where he walks
up and down the aisles freely. He also uses
the GHSII in an innovative exercise program
created by his foster home, structured
around Taekwondo. Robert loves the freedom
he feels being able to walk again out in the
world, and gathers a crowd wherever he goes!
Norman- Saves his Leg, and Walks Again
Norman walks again after failed back surgery,
and secondary complications which lead to a
scheduled surgery to amputate his leg. He also
needed an additional
diagnosis and treatment in the area of his
C-spine. Norman traveled 65 miles to physical
therapy, every day. He has advanced beyond the
expectations of his MD, DPM and his
orthotist in under 1 month. Norman has so
improved lower extremity function that the
amputation was not only cancelled, he is able to
walk again. His therapy involved ambulation in
the Gait Harness System (GHS) with his RGO
(reciprocating gait orthosis) for 45 minutes a
session. Norman progressed from 5 minute
sessions in the parallel bars to 45 minutes in
GHS in just 1 week. After 6 weeks of therapy, he
had significant improvements in lower extremity
circulation, muscle mass strength, bone density
and cardiovascular studies, including a lowering
of his cholesterol and a reduction in his
hypertension. Norman's story shows that hope is
alive...and is living proof of how someone can
move from being wheelchair confined, and looking
at a future filled with challenges related to an
amputation, to resuming an independent life.
Walking, and recovery, are possible!
Knute- Walks again
after 22 years -Taking the Road to Recovery
Knute was 11 years
old when he experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury
following an automobile accident. Knute had never walked
since, as he was at high risk for falls. 22 years later,
here begins his story. Knute is learning to walk again
WITHOUT any braces or computerized assistance, safely
with trained family/staff members. He began walking just
a few steps; now, he is walking up to 800 feet per
session. After 22 wheelchair bound years, he has come a
long way in a short period of time, and, using the GHS,
is making progress beyond anyone's expectations. While
walking, he is improving the quality of his social
communications with others, at an eye-to-eye level.
Knute is proud to share his video showing his "dream
come true!" He is proving when aiming high, anything is
possible!
Knute- Part 2 - Holding onto his Dream 25
Years Later: Taking the Road to Recovery
As you know from Knute’s video above, he had a
TBI resulting from a MVA from when he was just
11 years old. In the Second Step Gait Harness
System, he experienced his first steps, walking
for the first time in 22 years. Now 36 years
old, Knute is walking over 1,000 feet per
session! There is no end in sight for Knute's
continued progress. He is improving, one step at
a time, and is finding that all his consistent
hard work is making his dream to walk again come
true. This latest video shows Knute using the
GHS with greater ease, increased drive, and much
improved posture and endurance.
Knute- Part 3 - Recovering His Spirit,
Changing His Life
This latest video update from Knute shows
incredible progress in several areas. Knute has
expanded into walking in all available hallways
at his day center, transitioning back and forth
between carpeting, linoleum tile, and rubberized
flooring. Knute is walking 1,400 feet per 20
min.
session -- a 40% distance and endurance
improvement in 11 months! He has increased his
walking speed in the past 7 weeks from 48
ft./min. to 70 ft./min. Due to his increased
strength and endurance, Knute has abandoned his
former power scooter, and now uses a manual
wheelchair when he isn't walking. As you will
see in this video, Knute no longer requires
transfer assistance into the GHS via 2-3 staff
members and a mat table; he brings himself to
standing, independently, straight up from his
manual wheelchair. Knute continues to experience
commensurate cognitive and psychological
gains. He walks with such drive and
determination, he has earned the affectionate
nick name of "Knute the Brute" from staff, who
admire his intense commitment and remark
he shows the focus and persistence of a true
athlete. As always, Knute continues to be a
inspiration to other program participants and
their families!
Greg - Exercise Reactivates Reorganization
in Chronic Brain Injury
Greg experienceda
closed headinjury
about year ago. His video
is an example of how good therapy seeks novel
applications of new and current rehabilitation
paradigms to stimulate, irritate and reactivate
the impaired central nervous system. Greg's
activity here is creative, complex, and involves
in-depth cognitive processing.
Donald
- Serving our Country
Donald is a active duty veteran who served our country
several years during the Korean War. Military stressors
included a traumatic brain injury, PSTD, and shell
fragment wounds following blast exposure, at which
time he was jettisoned from his jeep. In the past
several years, Donald has experienced a heart attack, a
stroke, and multiple repeated rib, arm, hand and leg
fractures resulting from falls. Increasing falls
have led to multiple hospitalizations and increasingly
protracted stays in residential skilled nursing
facilities.
Six weeks ago, Donald took his first steps, after not
having stood or walked in over 6 months. He required a
one person assist with transfer and ambulation. You
will now observe Donald transferring into the Gait
Harness System II independently from the bedside, and
walking through multiple halls of his residential
nursing facility, requiring no staff assistance. In
fact, he is walking so quickly, it is hard for staff to
keep up with him! Donald is excited to be getting
stronger each day, and is regaining his spirit.
Obviously, Donald's increasing mobility will allow him
residential options outside of skilled nursing care.
Amy- New Freedom Found from Walking Again
using Second Step
3 years ago, Amy suffered a T-11
spinal cord injury following a MVA. Her local doctor
and therapist told her she would never walk again. Amy
had different plans! She began using the Second Step
Gait Harness System at a serious spinal cord injury
recovery center. Within 9 months, you can see the
progress she has made. Amy now has her own Gait Harness
System at home, and uses it daily to go for walks
outside with her boyfriend. Amy is highly motivated, and
is determined to recover.
David - Home Users find Recovery
David suffered from a stroke and then
severe muscle atrophy in his legs. He began using the
Gait Harness System at the end of 2008. Within 12 weeks
he went from walking 20 feet to walking 240 feet each
session. David uses the Gait Harness System twice per
week, and is very proud of his progress. This video
story shows how clinical hallways can become 2-lane,
active therapy corridors. Notice how the caregiver and
user have the room and freedom to walk safely. The
caregiver and the user have great control and easy
maneuverability over the GHS, without having to wrestle
with awkward, heavy or resistant equipment. You can see
David glides smoothly down the hallway, without intense
effort.
In the 10 months since this video was filmed, David
reports that due to his weekly use of the Gait Harness
System, he has progressed right out of using the GHS! He
is currently using just a cane for partial walking
assistance. David commented that prior to beginning use
of the GHS, he was entirely wheelchair bound, and wasn't
able to walk at all. He is delighted at his new freedom
and independence.
Mary Ann-
Making Walking Again a Reality After a Stroke
After suffering from a stroke, Mary Ann lost her
ability to stand and walk. She was able to begin
taking just a few steps (using the Second Step Gait
Harness System) two years ago, once a week. Mary
Ann's continued therapy goals have focused on her
consistent use of the GHS. Over time, this has
allowed her to now comfortably walk over 100 feet
each session, with continued hope for better days.
So far, this approach has brought success and opened
doors for new opportunities for her increasing
recovery.
Mary Ann-
Part 2 - Walking through Memory Care
Mary Ann currently walks in the Gait Harness
System at her day center's Memory Care Unit.
When asked if she wants to get out of her
wheelchair and try walking, she says "yes, I
want to walk for miles!" Mary Ann is very proud
of being able to do standing transfers into the
GHS, commenting that she enjoys "standing up
short." This video shows you the ease of
transfers into and out of the GHS, and how the
user can easily take rest stops as required.
Mary Ann is consistently walking 100 ft. per
session, focusing on maintaining her best
possible healthy functioning, while working
through issues of chronic back pain and a memory
impairment disorder. Each day, Mary Ann brings a
smile and cheerful words to everyone around her!
Marlene- Continued Progress brings her
more Freedom at Home
The Gait Harness System is allowing Marlene, a woman
with cerebellar degeneration and severe balance
disturbance, to walk again.
Since she began using the System, she has increased her
walking from 10 feet to 200 feet per session.
This is greatly improving her strength and stamina,
making chair and wheelchair transfers much easier for
her. Marlene says that "Using the Gait Harness System has
been a life changing experience. It is allowing me to
restore my ability and confidence. It’s hard work, but
it’s good work. It’s great to feel my muscles again!"
Marlene- Part
2-
Renewed Hope to Walk Again: Marlene Continues
Finding Solutions
Marlene is making progress reaching her goal of
learning to walk again, one day at a time. She
is using the Gait Harness System two times per
week in therapy. Marlene is now able to walk 250
feet per session, with more confidence and
purpose. She is increasing her strength and
control, which allows her to walk more
independently. For Marlene, who has been living
with severe balance disturbance and cerebellar
degeneration, her progress has exceeded anyone's
expectations.
Lisa- Overcoming Obstacles
Ten years, two children, Lisa is
closer than ever to achieving her goal of
walking again. Lisa is a C8 tetraplegic, ASIA A,
status post MVA 10 years ago. After her injury,
she was told she would never walk- or even
stand-again. But with resilience, and the
opportunity to use the GHS in conjunction with
her bilateral KAFOs, she is proving her
physicians and therapists wrong. She attends
therapy 3 x wk, 3 hours per session. Lisa uses
bilateral carbon fiber stance control KAFOs and
a GHS. The two products work together to provide
Lisa the opportunity to safely ambulate with a
natural reciprocating gait pattern. Since her
accident, she has regained some movement and
sensation below the level of her injury, much
occurring since she started in the SCI program.
Lisa has purchased a GHS to be used at home
along with the braces. Her husband assists her
with a sit to stand into the GHS. Her home
therapy program includes neuromuscular E-Stim of
all major muscle groups below the lesion level
every other day, and standing in the KAFOs and
GHS to work on endurance, pre-gait and gait
activities. Lisa spends her free time
volunteering, donating self employment income to
SCI programs, and keeping up with her two young
boys’ school and recreational lives.
Jim-Getting
Back on Your Feet
Recovery is closer than it seems for many
people. Using the Second Step Gait Harness System for
resistive and assistive therapy, Jim was pleased to find
his recovery after a stroke and a knee replacement got
him back on his feet again. Jim was able to address his
balance and weakness issues safely and productively, and
has resumed his hobbies and active lifestyle.
In the context of the continuing and escalating need for
rehabilitative therapy for traumatic brain injury, spinal
cord injury, neurological, lower extremity amputation, and
stroke populations, these stories offer hope that there is
opportunity for recovery. You have seen concrete examples of
how using the GHS in therapy has made walking again possible
for many.
Do you or a loved one use the Gait Harness System?
If so,
click here to tell us your
story.
No problem is
too big…if the right people, with the right treatment, and
the right System, go at it the right way
“Your videos of brain injured folks, like my son, using
the GHS brings tears to my eyes because it reminds us to
never give up and to keep trying new things.”
Bonnie P., parent of user, Eugene OR
.....healthy opportunities for recovery
“Just
this morning the Gait Harness System was bringing some amazement and
tears to staff members as a student used it successfully.”
David Cacciatore, Physical Therapist, Lane School, Houston TX
…..keeping therapists & patients safe
“Patients
cannot fall using the GHS as the harness is designed to
support their full body weight if necessary. No
walker or cane can compare to the safety of this
System.”
Nicole Prieto-Lewis, Director of the Gait and Balance
Laboratory, Gainesville VA, Gainesville FL
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At
Second Step, Inc. we specialize in helping people walk and stand again. Our
product line includes:
second
step gait harness system, gait harness system, adult harnesses, Gait Harness
System II , pediatric harnesses
