Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rise&Walk®?

The Rise&Walk® is a rehabilitation technology designed to provide activity based therapy in seated, standing, and walking modes. The adjustable assistance features are designed to challenge users and promote functional recovery.

How can I purchase the Rise&Walk®?

Please request a demo to speak with a Healing Innovations team member to learn more.

Where is Healing Innovations headquartered?

Nashville, Tennessee.

Is the Rise&Walk® registered with the FDA?

Yes, the Rise&Walk® is registered with the FDA. Please see the regulatory page for more information.

Where is the Rise&Walk manufactured?

Nashville, Tennessee.

What are the purchase options available for the Rise&Walk?

There are purchase options available to fit any budget including direct purchase and leasing options.

Are there height requirements for the Rise&Walk?

Yes, the standard Rise&Walk is designed for users 4’0” to 6’3”

How long is a typical Rise&Walk Session?

A rehab session will be dependent on the rehabilitation environment (inpatient vs. outpatient). Typically, we see most sessions lasting between 40 to 60 minutes in duration.

How long does it take to set up a Rise&Walk session?

The donning process for the Rise&Walk is dependent on the ambulatory capabilities of the user, but we see the majority of sessions taking between 3-10 minutes to set up.

Clinical Frequently Asked Questions

What is the recommended dosage of Rise&Walk InClinic sessions?

Below are practical recommendations made by a collaboration of research findings and experienced professionals. 

They are not hard guidelines but rather general recommendations. It is ultimately up to the certified, treating clinicians using the Rise&Walk InClinic to use their clinical judgment to determine appropriate use and dosage for their patient. 

Frequency & Duration: To determine the amount of Rise&Walk sessions recommended each week a patient should consider patient characteristics such as age, acuity of injury or disease, and the presence of comorbidities. 

  • For acute and subacute patients: 4 -5 sessions/week for a minimum of 30 minutes of gait training for each session. Increase benefit seen for sessions up to 45 -60 minutes in duration. 
  • For chronic patients (>6 months): 2-3 sessions per week of at least 30 minutes with the goals of increasing frequency and duration as tolerated.

Intensity: Intensity has proven to be a critical parameter for optimizing functional outcomes. The Rise&Walk allows for high repetition of stepping practice. Intensity in the Rise&Walk should be individually adjusted and monitored.

The following parameters can be adjusted to increase the intensity of the session:

  • Body weight support: The Rise&Walk InClinic provides 0 -100% BWS. Lower levels of BWS make gait training more challenging
  • Assistance Levels: The Rise&Walk InClinic provides 0 - 10 assistance levels. Lower assistance levels allows patients to use more of their own effort which increases the level of intensity
  • Backward stepping: Backward stepping recruits different muscles than forward stepping and often increases the intensity of training.
  • Arm swing integration: Integrating the arms swing has proven to increase muscle activation in the core and LEs, thus increasing the intensity of exercise. 
  • Speed: Optimizing the speed that allows the patient to focus on their stepping and optimize their own volitional output. Speed can be used to challenge cardiopulmonary systems as long as kinematics remain safe
  • RPE Monitor: This is an optional monitor that pops up every 5 minutes on the touchscreen during a session. The dialogue box on the touch screen will ask the patient where they are at on the 0-10 BORG RPE scale. It is recommended that patients reach the 7-8/10 level (moderate to vigorous intensity) on the scale.  If they are below this level, the clinician can change parameters or increase their coaching to try and increase the intensity for the patient.

Additionally, by increasing the overall volume of walking therapy (increases number of sessions and/or increasing session duration) in the Rise&Walk InClinic increases repetition and overall intensity of walking practice.

If my patient has spasticity will they be able to safely use the Rise&Walk InClinic?

Given the compliant foot pedal design of the end-effector system, the Rise&Walk InClinic is often described as “forgiving” to spasticity.  The mechanics of the technology will not turn off during muscle spasms. The Rise&Walk will allow the patient to work through their spasticity with the goal of retraining these signals to become more functional movement patterns. 

For individuals with severe spasticity, we recommend starting with a seated warm-up before transitioning to stepping. 

Other options to manage walking patterns for individuals with high spasticity is to start at a slower speed, smaller stride length, and adjust body weight support to accommodate for the spastic response observed. 

What patients are appropriate/not appropriate for the Rise&Walk InClinic?

Indications: The Rise&Walk InClinic is indicated for any individual with gait and/or balance impairments. The technology allows for reciprocally guided walking and/or balance practice in a body-weight supported, safe environment.

Commonly seen diagnoses: Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury (complete and Incomplete), Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's Disease, Guillain Barre Syndrome, and Stroke. 

The Rise&Walk InClinic can be used with acute to chronic patients from low to higher functioning patients. This technology can be integrated across the rehabilitation continuum.

Contraindications: Prior to use, all patients need to be deemed medically stable and appropriate by a trained professional. The Rise&Walk InClinic should not be used if the patient has any of the following:

•  Bodyweight exceeds 285lbs (129.2kg) or outside of height limitations 4’0” – 6’3”

•  Open skin lesions in the trunk, groin region or lower extremities in contact with the harness, knee support, or footplates

• Osseous instability (unstable spine, severe osteoporosis, external halo neck supports, unstable fractures)

• Circulatory instability

• Uncontrolled diabetes

• Pregnancy

• Patients on a breathing apparatus 

•Patients with aggressive behavior

• Extreme attention deficit disorder or inability to follow instructions

• Straps and harness cannot be appropriately adjusted (i.e. – due to patient shape, size, pain, skin conditions, etc.)

• Severe limitations in hip, knee, ankle range of motion

• Inability to hold one’s head up/severely impaired head control

• Patients not cleared for any form of gait training activities

How long is the training process?

The clinical training includes online-based pre-training materials, as well as in-person training. The hands-on, in-person clinical training can take 1-2 days based on the organizations’ overall needs, team, experience, patient population served, etc.

How does your “train-the-trainer” program work?

3-4 clinicians from an organization will participate in the hands-on clinical training. Once the clinicians have completed all pre-training materials and quizzes, a minimum of 8 hours of hands-on, in-person training, followed by a skills check- off they will be a certified Rise&Walk InClinic user.

In order to train future clinicians at their organization, the certified users must also have completed a minimum of 10 hours of leading sessions on the technology.

The certified trainers will then take future clinicians through the same process (pre-training materials, hands-on training, formal skills-check) to certify new clinical trainers.

How do I know how hard my patient is working in the Rise&Walk InClinic?

The first way to gauge how much volitional effort your patient is doing in comparison to the robot is to incrementally decrease the assistance level until you find their “bottom level.” The patient’s bottom level is the level of least assistance with which they cannot provide sufficient effort to complete a step trajectory. 

Place them at the next level up and time how long they can tolerate this challenging level. This is a similar tactic to finding  a 1 rep maximum for strength training. This test will give you a good understanding as a clinician as to where the patient’s most challenging level is. From there interval training between this level and easier levels (2 -3 levels up - more assistance) is recommended.

The second way to gauge your patient’s effort is through the RPE monitor. This is an optional monitor that pops up every 5 minutes on the touchscreen during a session. The dialogue box on the touch screen will ask the patient where they are at on the 0-10 BORG RPE scale. It is recommended that patients reach the 7-8/10 level (moderate to vigorous intensity) on the scale. If they are below this level, the clinician can change parameters or increase their coaching to try and increase the intensity for the patient.

Are the hand guides adjustable and optional?

The hand guides offer multiple adjustments and configurations to accommodate for impaired upper extremities. The hand guides can accommodate for shoulder subluxation, UE paralysis/paresis, ROM limitations at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, etc. 

The hand guides can be used together, unilaterally, or not at all.The hand guides can also be used with a pair of adaptive gloves for individuals with impaired grasp.

Schedule a demo today to see the Rise&Walk in action first-hand.