kidwalk vs up n'go vs mobile stander and other equipment

[maryamou]

Hi everyone

I have been looking into equipment for my little who wants to move and explore but needs help. Right now we have zero equipment. nil.. nada... :2aa:

goals are independence and social life. so here are some I am interested in and why

a mobile stander - undecided which brand. for socializing. thinking of using it when we see other kids, so they can see eye to eye and hopefully keep up to pace with the other kids. (wheelchair = waist level of other kids,so maybe in the future but not now)

dynamic parapodium - exercise and hopefully help bowel movement. or unecessary?

kidwalk - allows more upper body movement and teaches how to walk (is it better or worse than the regular gait trainer at teaching how to walk though?). can this replace a mobile stander? i.e mobile stander cum gait trainer?

Up n’ Go® From Easy-Walking Inc. - allows person to independently go from sitting to standing. (not sure if this still works for someone with no leg movement at all. anyone knows?) Do i need a pt trained in this to be able to let my child use it?

itś one thing to read about and see videos of the above, and another thing to learn from experiences.

those of you have used any of the above equipment, what do you like and dislike about it?

what improvements, or other equipment would you have liked?

and what do you recommend for someone with L1 functionality, with no movement or feeling beyond the hips at all.

and what are the basic equipments a spina bifida child really needs (rated absolute necessity #1 to voluntary #5 if possible)

if anyone has any of the above, or other old equipment in good condition that you are willing to sell (for a 1 or 2 year old child), please pm me the price. I can arrange for courier shipping to pick the item up so no hassle :)

thanks

[smoop]

We have experience with a few of the items mentioned. When Analise was 12 months we had a borrowed Standing Dani (mobile stander) for about 6 months. I thought it was great. We tried to get one through our insurance but they denied all mobile standers. At 18 months we had a parapodium (it was not dynamic though-- didn't know they existed). We would put her up to our coffee table with a bunch of toys. We used it for a few years and liked it. It was helpful for her knee contractures. We got her first wheelchair right before she turned 2. In retrospect, it was unnecessary. We could have just used a stroller; we really didn't use it much anyways.

We have also tried the Up and Go (or whatever it's called). Our PT had a rep try it out for us. Because my daughter functions around L4 or so, it was equipment that she probably wouldn't have used much. I could see how it would be really helpful for a child with less leg function.
I hope this helps a little.

[Kari]

I would go with the mobile stander asap, and a wheelchair once he/she is ready to start preschool. The stander is important for weight bearing (keeping bones strong/healthy). Zach got his wheelchair at 2 1/2, and we used it when we were out and about so that he could get proficient at maneuvering it before he started preschool. He'll have it until he's around 7-8 when he gets the next size one. This one "grows" with him for approximately 5 years. We still use the stroller at times, but I think it's very important for him to be independent. I would not have had my daughters primarily in a stroller when they were 4 when we were out of the house. They would have hated being confined. I think of Zach the same way. I want him to be independent and explore, and "run away" from me at the mall, just as they did. When he's on the playground at school, he would never be able to keep up with the kids crawling around on the ground. He goes out in his wheelchair and chases everyone just like the rest of the class.

BTW - He's 4, so he's had the WC for about a year and a half.

[jveprek]

We had a parapodium/stander custom made and Madi really loved it. She even used her walker to "walk" in it. It did really help with circulation and poo and all that good stuff.

Madi also has a rifton dynamic stander (mobile upright stander) and she really really loves this as well. We use this out instead of a wheelchair a lot :)

[Kent T]

Bjorn used the KidWalk when he was learning walking, then transitioned to Loftstrand crutches. He also uses Allard Kiddie Gait AFO braces. He has a cracked shin he's trying to heal up (powerchair met tree). So he's wheeling for now until better.

[maryamou]

hi

thanks for the replies

kent, how do you find the kidwalk? do you prefer it to the regular gait walkers? why or why not? do you think it is suitable for someone with no leg movement whatsoever, but good upper body strength (L1 functionality)?

smoop, with the up n go, can the child use it from sit to stand with upper body strength and hkafo or rgo alone? or is at least a little bit of lower leg movement needed?

[Kent T]

Our PT recommended the KidWalk. Bjorn was already crawling some and pulling up to the sofa. So, she thought he might be able to walk. He is L2 level. I'm not sure if it would work for your little one. For our little one, it proved a good choice.

[maryamou]

hi everyone

I just came across the EasyStand Bantam Mobile with hydraulic pump option.

Basically the child can independently use the pump to go from sitting to standing and can self-propel while sitting or standing.

I am wondering how much it will all cost though, and how manouverable it is. Itś bulky for sure though.

http://www.easystand.com/bantam/mobile.cfm

[Kent T]

The Easy Stand is a good standing tool, but not great for independent mobility. It's clumsy to push. The KidWalk is a little less clumsy than some gait trainers we tried with our sons. Superb for walking. Some do fine at walking, some tire easy or have pain, so some do need wheelchairs. Bjorn and I are both part time wheelers.

[maryamou]

thanks for the reply. that was very helpful.seems like kidwalk is the way to go for now.

[Jill]

How old is your child?

My son is 21 months old and functions about L1. When he was 13 months we had a mini wheelchair made like the ZipZac http://myzipzac.com/ It's been awesome for him learning to wheel around and is great at playgroups with kids his age who are up and down and all over. He is close to the floor where the toys are, but is mobile. It's also made him incredibly comfortable with wheels and can now get anywhere and do anything in any wheeled type of thing.

He's also trialing wheelchairs. I thought it was too early for one, but he LOVES it. It's great for outside the home - at the mall, the library, going for walks, etc. Anywhere that people are a bit taller and he might get tired but still wants independence. It's going to be a long 6 weeks between when we return our trial wheels and wait for the real one to come in. :(

Tomorrow, we're supposed to be ordering his Rifton dynamic stander. He loved it when we tried it out. A different perspective on the world being standing and moving. He has a stationary stander that he really likes, but for *me* it's a pain to have to hover and toss things at him as he gets bored since he can't roll/crawl or move to whatever interests him like he would if he wasn't strapped down. :p

I haven't heard much about the other things you've mentioned, but I'm going to look into them!

[lrllnd1]

We actually made our daughter something similar to this zipzap. She loves it. We also made her a dynamic standing frame. She had a plain parapodium whihc she got bored of very easily. There was an old standing Dani on ebay whihc \i got for about $ 250 and I modified it( cut it up in places) so I can strap the parapodium onto it and now she has a dynamic stander which she loves once she is in it. We are having porblems getting her into it since her hips are getting really tight.