麻豆区
Customer Review
- Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2021I really like this device. I broke my ankle in three places and required emergency surgery and a week later I am 鈥渨alking鈥 on the beach with my kids.
It is not intuitive to put together. It is a totally new design of course and you have to watch the videos carefully and have them loaded with the pause/play button to go step by step. It took about 20 min to put together with my dad and there were videos their site about the whole process including perfect fit which took another 20 min. I have a cast boot and I also had to hit hot glue a piece of foam knee pad (gardener鈥檚 knee pad worked well) to keep my knee and shin the same height - I had to send my dad to the dollar store to pick that up as I didn鈥檛 have one at home that wasn鈥檛 covered in dust or dirt.
So budget an hour to go from shipping box to good fit with a handy person with you so you are not frustrated. It is designed to literally fit everyone (dials for hip width, gait type, leg length etc). It took time even for an usually handy duo like us to figure it all out. But once we understood it, we respected the thoughtful and stable design, high quality materials, and comfortable touches for someone who has other pain to deal with.
I was trying to rush putting it together 3 days after coming back from hospital and I just was not at my best trying to put it together on the first go. Not a good time for me to do something new then. I just tried again the next day and it was easier.
I submitted a video my gait to the company and tech support called me back next business day morning with three specific adjustments that made it even better. The guy clearly knew his product and carefully reviewed my tech support ticket and called me by my name.
What I really like is that when I walk with it my whole injured leg activates without weight-bearing, including the calves, feet and toes, due to muscle memory. I know my risk of losing too much muscle mass has to be lower. It really engages my glutes, core stabilizers and hip flexors with weight right away. I have been busted up a few other times in my athletic lifestyle, and I know physio will start smoothly once I can weight bear this time.
In terms of ease of use, it is not easier than having my old leg. :/ I literally look like a pirate with a peg leg as there is no 鈥渟pring鈥 from below the knees, so how I balance and walk have to partially relearned so there is a learning curve, BUT as I mentioned before my brain fires my triple extension muscle chain when I step on the injured side, and those muscles pump out the swelling and get stronger again with every step.
I still carry crutches in case I lose my balance as I am not allowed to even feather weight bear if I stumble. I am weaning myself off of those crutches after 7 days but will at least carry a cane for the rest of the time in my boot (4 more weeks). But if I had to wear this for 3-6 months I would definitely imagine I can just walk and workout in it without any other aids.
On iWalk Day 1: it took me 40 min to go 800m on uneven sandy rolling trail. Day 7: it took me 16 min to do the same trail. I was about as fast as my kids which is not saying much usually but pretty fast considering the 12 screws and two plates in my leg put in 11 days ago.
My ankle does not move in the iWalk + Airboot when walking. There is no pain from the movement.
Excellent conversation piece with strangers.
My insurance (Manulife) covered it 100%.
I showed my doctor the research articles on the site about the reduction of blood clots on this device and she was impressed.
I find that the vibram sole is very sticky (99% of time helpful) so you need to have adequate lift off otherwise it can get stuck behind you. To prevent this, make sure it鈥檚 the right length or a notch lower. Tight at the knee. Perhaps use the handle to 鈥渇eel鈥 the clearance.
When I sit, I take it off, then I use it to prop my foot up, like a monopod.
It is the only thing that lets me climb up stairs not on my butt, so thank you for that.
Will post update week 12 after injury.
Good luck.
A coach liked to say鈥.It will get easier later.
