title: A walker with a device of partial suspension for patients with gait disturbance: body weight supported walker.
abstract: We developed a walker, the Body Weight Supported (BWS) Walker, with a device of partial suspension for patients with gait disturbance. It consists of a light frame with casters, a harness, and a winch system. One therapist alone can perform gait training safely with the BWS Walker without any additional physical load, even if a patient has severe gait disturbance, and the therapist can concentrate on evaluating and improving the patient' s standing balance and gait pattern. Because the BWS Walker is less expensive, simpler, and easier to operate than other BWS systems, we believe the BWS Walker can be widely applicable in training for patients with severe and moderate gait disturbance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Yahatanishi-ku Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Futoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachisuka
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D004867:Equipment Design; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014853:Walkers