Testimonials

Testimonial from Debbie Pitsch, PT
Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center

April 2008

Although I have limited experience with the Gait Harness System (GHS) (2 patients), I have experienced positive outcomes with using the device with the TBI population. The device allows for early gait training which helped both patients feel successful in working towards their goals of independent ambulation. The GHS is a safe way to work on motor control/motor learning while the therapist can focus on facilitating a more normal gait cycle. I have also found the GHS promotes a faster gait velocity which is difficult to obtain with over the ground ambulation (without the use of a treadmill). The benefits I have noticed are the following:

-comfortable harness that the patient can take sitting rest breaks in

-safe way to provide early gait training

-allows the therapist to focus on facilitation techniques vs. holding a patient upright

-encourages independence

-can be used outdoors to help people psychologically

-can ambulate further distances and work on endurance (less therapist fatigue)

-can be used to perform sporting activities to work on balance/strength

Many brain injured patients have poor insight and are impulsive, therefore the GHS would be a good option for a patient at high risk for falls to walk safely with trained family/staff members. I can also see the potential benefits of using the GHS with amputee patients who are fearful of falling and can promote less dependence on the parallel bars. 

The most commonly reported goal that patients report is to be able to walk again and the GHS allows for early gait training in a safe environment to progress patients quickly out of the parallel bars and improve overall endurance. I would also recommend a trial with the GHS to work on balance training if a patient is having frequent falls at home.

In general, I do not have enough experience to comment on the area of psychological benefits with our active duty/veteran population, but the GHS may reduce anxiety/fear of falling and improve motivation.

Sincerely,

Palo Alto CA 94304
http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/facilities/Palo_Alto.asp

“Thank you for the comprehensive information you provided on the “Second Step” program.  The program is most creative.  It should provide much needed rehabilitation support for individuals with disabilities in long term care facilities.  Wishing you every success."

- Margaret Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P, Director, Office on Disability, Health and Human Services, Washington DC

“I am suggesting patients to get a Second Step device to them, because we know that overground gait training gives the best recovery results.”

-Dr. Carlos Lima, Hospital Egas Moniz, Portugal

Bob Smith

Spinal Cord Injury Client Testimonial

 

 

“From my own personal experience, I can tell you that the Second Step Gait Harness System has helped me tremendously.

 

Since returning from China back in 2003, I have tried Body Weight Support Treadmill Training, with both a standard overhead lift and with the Lokomat. I've also tried the Litegait. I've also combined the Lokomat with the Second Step and the latest therapy from the Rehab Institute of Michigan (RIM), the Wave Machine, with the Second Step. Man, I think I've tried them all!

 

For those that don't know, there are videos in the CareCure Gallery and CareCure videos of me while using the Second Step.

 

What the Second Step allowed me to do is walk at my own pace, with or without assistance.  It allowed me to fully weight bear and with little to no discomfort, unlike every other harness. And that's not even mentioning the other obvious benefits, like endurance and cardio.

 

Now they're adding a crawling harness which a lot of research shows as being a natural progression to walking. Check out Crawl2walk.com That's me in the picture. They call me “guinea bob” in therapy. So, I guess you could say I like the product.”

 

 

Bob Smith

C5 ASIA B Client

Harrison Township, MI

Dec. 11, 2006

Second Step Gait Harness System as Compared to Body Weight Support Systems

 

The Second Step Gait Harness System (GHS) ambulatory has several distinctions that make it unique when compared to body weight support systems. 

 

First, the GHS does not directly off-load the individual’s weight. Weight reduction (if needed) is performed actively by the individual in the System. 

 

Second, the harness used in the GHS directs supportive forces (or fall recovery forces) through a much larger surface area on both thighs.  Other over-head harnesses direct these forces through the sensitive pubic area, which often leads to decreased treatment time and intensity. 

 

Lastly, the GHS allows for reinforcement of newly learned gait patterns in a real world situation.  This is a very beneficial and much needed adjunct treatment paradigm, and accentuates body weight support treadmill training.  Body weight support treadmill training, in general, has shown a benefit of retraining central pattern generation and the ensuing stepping pattern.  The GHS allows you to safely transfer and reinforce this progression to various land-based gait training activities.  Reinforcement of the various qualities of gait during land-based activities is a must for the activity to become functional.

 

 

Bill Thornton

Senior Physical Therapist

Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

September, 2006 product profiles

Harness System
The Gait Harness System by Second Step Inc is used in a broad spectrum of physical-therapy applications and provides a means of therapeutic intervention with gait and balance training. The complete Gait Harness System is used by caregivers and those working in occupational and physical therapy to help people walk again after challenges due to patients’ or clients’ loss of balance; nursing home falls; incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCI); Parkinson’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; lower-extremity amputations; orthotic use; traumatic brain injuries (TBI); and other ambulation, gait, and balance-    rehabilitation challenges.

For more information, contact Second Step Inc, 1625 Hamlet Lane, Eugene, OR 97402; (541) 337-5790; www.secondstepinc.com.

 

Second Step Testimonial

 

Grace Center for Adult Day Services is an adult day health center located in Corvallis, Oregon.  We have been using the Second Step Gait Harness System (GHS) ambulator since late 2005, and we have seen great results with several of our participants (clients). 

 

Of particular note is the experience of our youngest participant, Knute M., who is now 35 years old.  When Knute was 11 years old, he had a traumatic brain injury from a MVA and had never walked after that accident.  In February 2006 Knute began walking in the Gait Harness System twice a week at Grace Center.  This was a “dream come true” for this young man!  Knute began walking only a few feet, had worked his way up to 150-200 feet by October of 2007, and now routinely walks 400-450 feet in the GHS. He has been focusing on improving his technique in addition to distance, and he can now use the GHS with the assistance of only one staff member who walks behind the ambulator. Knute’s posture, balance, and gait have improved greatly with practice and coaching.  Staff members encourage him to bring his shoulders backward, “tuck under your buns” (tilt hips & pelvis forward), and take smaller steps.  Knute’s thigh muscle strength and size have increased so much that he now needs a larger size harness!  His home caregiver says that his is much stronger and better able to assist with transfers.

 

The Second Step GHS has also allowed several of our other participants who had stopped walking to regain their ambulatory ability.  We have found it is especially useful for hemiplegic participants who have very poor balance and are therefore at high risk for falls.  The GHS prevents injury not only to the participants but also to the staff members who are walking with them. 

 

The Second Step GHS has also allowed Marlene M., a 50 year old participant with cerebellar degeneration and severe balance disturbance, to walk at Grace Center.  By mid-October 2007, she was walking about 100 feet in the GHS.  Since then she has increased her distance to 125-175 feet per day.  This has greatly improved her strength and stamina, making chair and wheelchair transfers much easier for her.  Marlene’s gait has also become more normal and her turns in the ambulator are smoother.  She feels much more confident doing independent transfers both at the Center and in her home.

 

We love our two Second Step Gait Harness Systems and highly recommend them to other health care providers!

 

Cheri Babb

Cheri Babb, RN, Executive Director

Grace Center for Adult Day Services

980 NW Spruce Ave

Corvallis, OR 97330

 

 

Testimonial from Bill Thornton, MPT, Lead Therapist
Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

December 2005

 

 

I am the Lead Physical Therapist with the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery (CSCIR).  The CSCIR is part of the Detroit Medical Center and more specifically, the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. 

 

I use the Gait Harness System 1000 daily with almost all of my patients.  I have had great success using the device with and without braces (generally Carbon Fiber KAFO's with stance control knee) for static/dynamic balance activities, trunk strength/coordination, and pre-gait/gait activities (this is done with tetras and paras of all levels).  The unique harness is extremely comfortable, works very well with braces, and reduces the number of seated rest breaks with any standing activity.  

 

The System has allowed our program to be very challenging, efficient, and safe at the same time.  Many of the higher level activities would require two or three FTE if it were not for the GHS 1000.  I can not say enough about the ease of use and its ability to reduce the fear of falling. 

 

Below is a link to our web site from which you can access numerous new articles about our program (many of the articles mention the GHS 1000).

Sincerely,
Bill Thornton MPT
Lead Therapist
Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan

Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University

361 Mack Avenue

Detroit MI 48201-2417

http://www.centerforscirecovery.org/

“We received the GHS and just this AM it was bringing some amazement and tears to some staff members as a student used it successfully.”

-David Cacciatore, PT, Lane School, Houston TX

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