In its most general form, gait training is the act of learning how to walk. However, the term is most often used in reference to a person learning how to walk again after injury or with a disability. Throughout the last decade gait training has become one of the most frequent regiments in rehabilitation, used by physical and occupational therapists worldwide.
According to
The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, gait refers to the manner of walking (characterized by rhythm, cadence, step, stride and speed), whereas ambulation is the ability to walk.
There are a large number conditions that may require patients to learn or re-learn the manner of walking: traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophy and post-operative recovery just to name a few. In the same way that there are several conditions relevant to gait training, there are also several forms of gait training.
In past years more manual gait training tools were used, such as parallel bars. Particularly common in the early stages of gait training, parallel bars can be used when a patient is first learning or re-learning to walk. As the patient walks between two handrails to support themselves they are often assisted by a therapist either helping to support the patient or physically moving the patient's legs.
Similar to the manual use of parallel bars, manual gait aids such as belts, crutches and walkers have been utilized by therapist to encourage early patient mobility.
In recent years there have been several advancements in the area of gait and ambulation training. Body-weight support (BWS) systems or unweighting devices are starting to become more and more popular and have been the subject of much study. BWS systems can be used prior to the patient gaining adequate motor control or having sufficient strength to fully weight-bear. The patient will wear a specialized harness with adjustable straps, which attaches to an overhead suspension system. Therefore, the harness and its attachments support a certain amount of the patient's body weight. A BWS system can be used over ground or treadmill - supported treadmill ambulation training (STAT).
The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development has conducted various studies which demonstrate improvements in balance, motor recovery, walking speed, stride length, and endurance following repetitive use of BWS systems and STAT.
Despite the various forms of gait training, the most important factor is repetition of the actual motions performed during walking; unfortunately, use of BWS systems and STAT is limited to physical therapy gyms. Consequently, gait training cannot be carried over to small treatment centers or homecare without significant expense.
As a result, there has been a recent, revolutionary breakthrough in gait training technology, the walking table. Requiring no overhead suspension system, a walking table is a free-standing, mobile walker with a stable table-top designed to support the weight of the user when gait training in a physio or rehab situation. Walking tables are perfect for facility or homecare use as they can be used independently or with assistive care and are easily height adjustable to accommodate users of various heights.
Ergolet, the international manufacturer of patient mobility products, recently released a hybrid version of the walking table - Thera Rise & Go. The new Thera Rise & Go combines the features and benefits of a stand aid and a walking table in one device.
The Thera Rise & Go stand-tall walking table, capable of supporting up to 330 lbs, is the complete solution that rehab professionals are seeking, the combination of a stand aid and walker in one product that is versatile and cost-effective. The product employs a uniquely designed stand-up harness paired with a walking table. The length of the stand-up harness straps are automatically adjusted by the Rise & Go's actuator's vertical movement. This vertical movement along with the support of the harness allows the user to stand up naturally, experiencing no strain on the shoulder area and achieving a stress-free lift.
Covering an extensive range of user and caregiver needs, walking tables are the new, versatile, cost effective solution for short transfers, gait and rehabilitation training.
Ultimately, the primary objective of gait training is to facilitate functional, physical independence. When a patient is non-ambulatory or dependent in ambulation, various gait aids may be used to promote beneficial mobility. However, the long-term aim of gait training is usually to reduce patients' dependence on such technology in order to walk more in their daily lives.
Gary Nowitz is the Vice President of Ergolet North America