🚀 Step into freedom with iWALK3.0!
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S**H
Should be able to give it 6 stars!
If you have an injury where you can not put weight on a foot & you are determined to remain independent - there is nothing else out there like this. About 10 days ago I broke my heel & needed emergency surgery. The common mobility aid choices out there are crutches, walker, knee scooter, & IWalk 3.0 as of this time.First, in order to use this, you have to be somewhat agile, have decent balance, be on decent shape, & be determined to be independent. If that describes you, I will tell you why this product is the best choice out there. If you are happy sitting around all day & having everything done for you, then you may want to skip this product. There is a small learning curve & you have to be determined to get over that hump & make it work for you.I was d/c from hospital with a walker & had crutches at home. Both of those things require you to hop & you are very limited the distance you can go & where you can go. Steps on those - basically forget it.I’m a 51 yo male in pretty decent shape, but not an athlete. Before my injury I regularly walked ~ 7 miles a few days a week for exercise. I received the IWalk, put it together, & carefully paid attention to the adjustments & the correct way to do them. It’s fairly easy to put together (easier than a knee scooter) & it’s critical you set it up correctly. I also purchased a knee scooter at the same time.I watched the videos & learned a bit about it before using. One thing I’d like to say is the manufacturer mentions you need to be able to balance on 1 foot for 30 seconds to use the IWalk. I didn’t find that anywhere near true. I didn’t attempt it, but I really doubt I could consistently balance on 1 foot unassisted for 30 seconds. I could probably do 10 seconds, or whatever any normal person could do. This is no way made using the IWalk more difficult.Once I strapped it on, it was pretty intuitive. I could right away take steps unassisted. There is a space on the crutch to rest your hand on the side your foot is injured. This is important. While you can use it hands free, just regularly walking around it’s easier (& safer) to slightly “lift” the crutch with your hand and you step forward with it. If you don’t do this & are not paying attention, every once in a while you will misjudge lifting the crutch & the super sticky rubber foot will catch the ground as you left off & cause a “stutter” - like you you stepped on a shoe lace. This is easily avoided my either paying close attention when hands free or simply slightly lifting the crutch as you walk with your hand.There are 3 straps that hold this crutch to your leg. You want them TIGHT. Obviously, not cutting off your circulation, but tight enough that the crutch is one with your leg. A loose crutch can also cause this “stutter”. I will tell you in 10 days I have used this crutch heavily on all types of surfaces: uneven pavement, grass, steps, curbs, wet ground, etc & have not fell once.Once you master it, it will allow you to basically do anything you can do prior to your injury - it just takes longer. If done as directed, you can easily go up & down steps (with a railing). Low curbs can be done without holding on to anything & high curbs can be done with the aid of a can on holding on to something.If you’ve watched the videos, you can see all the things people can do with this crutch. They are 100% accurate. You just have to put in a little time to master it. The reason I sent the knee scooter back was it’s useless for stairs & it’s a big footprint so turning around is slow. The IWalk fixes all that.I was able to walk 2.25 miles around my neighborhood unassisted with just the crutch (see photo). I am able to easily get in & out of my truck, drive alone, & go places alone with the crutch (left foot injury). A small car may be more effort - but it’s certainly doable. You just get in your vehicle leaving the crutch leg hanging out & unstrap it while sitting on the seat, the place it it the vehicle. Once you’ve arrived you install it the reverse & you are free to go. I’ve been to the supermarket, post office, UPS store, convenience store, gas station, etc - all unassisted doing any normal activity with the crutch. You can stand alone unassisted (like waiting in line) once you master it.In fact, I even packed up my scooter in the huge box it came in, walked it out to my truck, placed it in the back seat, & walked into the UPS store carrying the scooter box using the IWalk. All unassisted. Once I realized with the IWalk can do - I knew the scooter was useless to me & going back to return.Ok, so some realistic advice. Some people short the IWalk because they say it’s a lot to take on & off. Well, I found if you are just going to the bathroom or something, you really just need to fasten the middle strap. It’s probably not the best idea, but I’ve even used it with no straps just to go a short distance. Again, I have not fell once.The crutch is built very well for the price point - it’s actually pretty brilliant. Honestly, working in the medical field, this thing could sell for 10x as much & still be worth it. It’s the only solution that allows you to do everything you did prior, it’s just slower & you need to take a bit more care. You just have to be motivated to do it. The more you use it, the easier it gets.The foot is a super grippy type rubber. Stickier than a sneaker. It really does not slide even on a wet surface. I use this to get in & out of a walk on shower very carefully with no problems. Surprisingly, even after being on your feet for a very long time(hours) my knee & shin was a little fatigued - but did not hurt. More like I needed a rest. I have yet to have any hip issues with it.Some tips:1. Adjust & tighten everything correctly. Watch all the videos & pay attention.2. Keep your eye on the ground in front of you & on the crutch foot. This helps a lot. Use a cane or a crutch to help the first time you use it to get the hang of it.3. The straps have 2 adjustments - a long term & a short term cinch strap that allows you to get in & out of the crutch quick. Once you get the “long term” adjustment correctly- sew that part of the strap in that position. It does tend to loosen up over time & it’s a lot quicker if you don’t have to keep tightening that adjustment & the quick adjustment.4. Periodically check everything on the crutch is tight. There are a few screws on the foot, the hip adjustment, & a clamp on the ankle part that can come loose. Just check them every 2 days or so.5. As the directions say, make the hip adjustment high, it’s more stable.6. Always hold on to something going up & down a curb or steps. I’ve learned to negate this on a high curb using a cane. Going down steps backwards is easier, especially if it’s many steps.7. If you are on any type of uneven terrain - make very small steps. The smaller the steps the more in control you are. I was even able to go up a big muddy grass hill ok doing this.8. Don’t swing doors & car doors behind you to close them. Turn around & close the door facing it. This makes it so you will now swing the door shut on your bad foot.9. Only use hands free if you need to. Otherwise, hold the built in handle as I described before when making steps as a habit.Again, this thing is really a game changer. You just have to master it & take your time.11/23/23 ******************* Below is an update/ edit.It’s now about 7 weeks I’ve been using the iWalk. I’ve used it quite extensively. In fact, I’ve been on it at work 8 hours without sitting down once. I’ve walked 4+ miles non stop with it. I’ve brought it on vacation to a tropical area outside the country where the temperature was 100 degrees F & the humidity is very high. I’ve worn it on the beach. It’s been exposed to salt water. I’ve walked on cobblestone streets, high curbs, wet sand, grass, dirt/mud, wet floors / wet cement / wet asphalt, & almost anything else that is out there. I’ve got it soaking wet from being caught in the rain. It’s been on 4 airplanes & through security at multiple airports. It’s literally been dropped & thrown all over many times. I hope the manufacturer of iWalk reads this - I have a few things that I think may be helpful….1. The knee / shin pad story… I’ve spent hours standing / walking with the iWalk without sitting or taking it off. I wore out the original knee pad ~ 2 weeks. The pad is foam & the foam compresses & doesn’t relax; providing significantly less “cushion”. This makes it feel like you are kneeling on hard plastic & makes a huge difference in the comfort experience & length of time you can use the crutch consecutively. Hours can go to minutes once the foam pad is worn out. I used it (too much) with the worn out foam pad & eventually got a pressure blister + significant soreness on my knee / shin before a new one arrived.The new pad helped, but we are dealing with dense foam that is about 1” thick if that. Even with the new pad, I already caused some topical soft tissue injury to my knee & shin from overuse of the crutch with worn out pad - so it still hurt even with the new pad. However, I did find a solution.The solution is to trace out the original knee/shin pad from the iWalk w/ 4” memory foam, cut it out, and use it as a “buffer pad” between your shin/leg & the stock iWalk pad. I happened to have an old memory foam mattress topper - which works perfect. You can likely buy 4” memory foam on Amazon, or bite the bullet & buy the smallest 4” memory foam mattress topperyou can find - then you can make additional pads.You simply sit your new memory foam buffer pad on top of the stock iWalk pad & affix it with 2 loops of quality medical tape going around the whole iWalk knee platform. You want the tape to slightly compress the foam just enough to hold it in place. This makes it much easier than having your new foam “buffer pad” fall off every time you remove the iWalk. iWalk needs to provide a pad like this or offer explicit instructions on making one. It makes a night & day difference. Even with prior knee/shin irritation I can again use iWalk several hours continuously comfortably. I feel like the iWalk is priced very reasonably. I think they should raise the price & provide a pad like this & another stock type pad stock with the crutch. You need 2 pads for extended use. One dense core & one very open core that can compress a lot (memory foam). This provided a comfortable interface for your leg & the crutch. For light use the stock pad is sufficient until it wears out.My iWalk has seen rain, high humidity, & high temperatures. The few tiny Velcro circle pieces that retain the foam knee pad to the knee platform became unglued on the pad and the crutch after a lot of use & moisture. I was able to re-glue the Velcro w/ Krazy Glue - bit a few wer lost. I feel iWalk could make a huge improvement by securing the pad with a much larger strip of Velcro & either improving the adhesive or providing replacement pre-cut pieces of self adhering Velcro with the crutch & charging you a few & more $. I fixed this by using Krazy Glue to adhere additional Velcro to the pad & knee platform.I lost one of the 3 foam strips that pad between your upper thigh/hip area & the crutch from the adhesive failing. I again cut out a piece of memory foam affixed it with glue this time. iWalk does sell replacements. However, memory foam is much thicker & provides much better comfort to the upper thigh. I feel iWalk could benefit by providing a thicker foam here (maybe 1”) & providing an additional set with the original purchase. It could only cost a few $ more & iWalk is so inexpensive for what it is a slight price increase wouldn’t hurt.Also, if you are in a long boot this will interfere with the iWalk knee platform. It can cause discomfort - especially if the boot has protrusions in the front. The solution is to use 4” memory foam as needed on the platform to shim/raise the boot so the protrusions aren’t hitting the knee platform. You will have to experiment. A short boot does not contact the crutch - so no problem there. I’d recommend a short boot with iWalk if possible.2. The fasteners… There are many threaded fasteners that hold the crutch together. They do come loose with significant use. Theoretically, one could come out causing a fall. I’m sure iWalk tells you to re-check them periodically. I found that applying Loctite to the threads & making them as tight as possible by hand once you are happy with your adjustments will keep them tight long term.Also, there are plastic/metal cotter pin like “c-clips”at some of the adjustment points. I found extensive bumping around could possibly knock one out if you hit it just right. This isn’t a design issue, I feel like the design is adequate & good. Just as a precaution, I recommend wrapping them in electrical tape so they can not become unfastened no possible way by accident - especially the “c-clip” that’s in a blue plastic retainer “cage” that holds lowest main pole height/leg adjustment. The plastic retainer cage did come unclipped on its own somehow a few times & started to get a little mangled. Realizing loosing/damaging one of these clips means I’d loose my mobility until I got a replacement - I wrapped them all in tape to avoid any possibility of this happening. In a perfect world IWalk could re-design that lowest “c-clip” retainer cage somehow so it doesn’t use plastic; however I feel the current design is not a major issue.3. The squeak… After a while the crutch will squeak. It’s not picky - but you will find it annoying. 95% of the noise comes from where the lowest pole goes into the plastic foot assembly. You can simply add oil around the lowest perimeter of the pole & it will sink into the plastic foot & stop the noise. It lasts about a week - then repeat.—— > Other than the foam pad(s), nothing on the crutch has failed after extensive use. The rubber “sneaker” tread is getting worn out, but they sell replacements. Walking on wet / slippery surfaces is almost as doable as doing the same with 2 feet as long as you are aware the surface is line that. If you are daring you can go up & down high curbs without assistance or holding on to anything once you get the hang of it. Steps will need a railing to go down forwards, or at least a wall to stabilize yourself to go down backwards. Backwards is better, depending what side your injury is & what side railing is on. Safely carrying multiple heavy bags or picking up heavy items is doable. It’s a good idea to keep your eye on the crutch foot if possible when walking. Small steps make it much safer over any uneven terrain. It’s a very good product that allows you to do about anything someone could do with 2 good feet. The only real area it could use some refinement is the knee pad.
Q**E
The iWalk makes it easy to get around! Love it!!
I read a lot of the reviews on this item before purchasing. All the 5-Star reviews are right on target! I'm a 63 year old woman, 5'5", 130 lbs. I exercise regularly, including yoga. Climbing the stairs has never been an issue. Standing up with 1 leg from sitting on the floor is not an issue. So I consider myself relatively fit. (Although having issues with my feet, I am not a walker, hiker, or runner.) I have also come to realize after having foot surgery, that I never spent much time sitting.Prior to having my surgery, I purchased "Peg", as one reviewer lovingly referred to her iWalk! (which nickname I adopted for mine as well). The first few days after surgery, I just sat with my foot up, using a walker to get around when absolutely necessary. That got old quick! No pun intended. Then I got out my iWalk and went through all the videos on my iPad about how to set it up, adjust it, walk with it, etc. The YouTube videos are excellent. One reviewer said you couldn't pause the videos -- this is not the case -- the videos function just like most videos on the platform. Many times I paused, rewound 10 seconds, etc. Don't expect perfection the first time you set it up. It takes awhile to work the bugs out of all the adjustments, but once you've established the perfect fit all around, it's pretty much all set.Another review I read and even in one of the videos, it was recommended to add padding to the knee, so I purchased an additional kneepad replacement and just added it. Works fine and is very comfortable. The only thing about the iWalk that I don't love is the strap and pad that goes around the upper thigh. It's made for a thicker thigh, so the pad that encloses the excess strap and slide adjustment buckle goes from the buckle that stays attached to the thigh brace all the way to the buckle you use to strap it on and take it off. I am constantly trying to push this pad away from the inside of my thigh. I've also had to readjust this strap length a few times, probably because I'm frequently tugging at it. So I guess technically, I'm giving the iWalk 4.9999 Stars. I'd rather have this problem than having to rely on a knee scooter though.The bandage was a bit cumbersome in the iWalk, but doable. Much easier once the bandage was replaced with a cast. I brought my iWalk to the orthopedic office so they could see how to best make the cast. I had also read a review where it was mentioned to make sure you are fitted with a boot that has a side pump, instead of it being in the front, so I discussed this when I was getting my cast so that when I move into the boot, it would work with the iWalk too.Almost ready to move into a boot now, but I had to leave a review to say how thankful I am to have found the iWalk! I was searching Amazon for the knee scooter when I found it (I had never heard of it before - and although the physical therapist who taught me how to walk with crutches had heard of it, they didn't have one in their offices), and I am so glad I chose the iWalk over the scooter. I have access to all 3 floors of my home (which is great since my laundry room is in the basement and master bedroom/bathroom is on the top floor). I keep a tote bag with pockets handy and use it to carry things up and down the stairs. Getting around is really easy. I use a walker to get to/from the bathroom at night, but during the day, I use the iWalk -- only takes a few seconds on/off/on again.I don't have any problems getting around, preparing meals, or doing simple housekeeping chores. I'm able to change the sheets and do laundry. I would not tackle using the vacuum with the iWalk. (I have a central vac and getting around with a 30' hose is challenging enough with full balance on 2 feet!) But running around with the dustmop is easy, using a broom and bending down to use a dustpan is easy enough. I do not have a pet to walk, but would not take that risk with an iWalk unless your dog is very well trained. I find it easy to bend down, placing the iWalk behind me, to pick something up off the floor.It's winter in New England, and we have had a good bit of snow and ice. I have not ventured outside without the comfort and security of my husband by my side. One place we visited, we took the handicap ramp up -- walking that slope was challenging -- I chose to use the stairs when we left and found them much easier to use. It's also easy to get in and out of a vehicle. My husband puts my iWalk in the back seat and takes it out for me, but if I were to do it myself, I would simply grab the iWalk by the leg, and feed it over my lap, between the seats, and place it on the floor or back seat. It's light enough to pick up and easily maneuver with one arm/hand. The foot collects snow, salt and sand, so I take it off in the garage and clean the foot before coming inside.I highly recommend the iWalk!
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