A new device is giving stroke victims and those with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders some hope of walking normally again.
St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital has been announced as the first Bioness (foot-drop system) fitting clinic in Queensland and is already working with patients to transform their walking speed and motion.
St Andrew’s physiotherapy team is seeing some fantastic results with patients who are trialing the device.
“A lot of people who have strokes and other neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy have foot drop, which means they are unable to clear their foot during walking and they do not put their foot down in a heel-to-toe motion,” St Andrew’s Neurological Physiotherapist Jane Clarke said.
Ms Clarke said there was a significantly increased risk of falls amongst people suffering from these neurological conditions.
“The Bioness device is very responsive to different surfaces. So if people wearing it go onto grass and other outside surfaces, it makes a big difference in how they are able to safely and quickly get around,” she said.
Until now, patients only had ankle-foot orthoses, or foot braces, to assist with walking and the devices had a limited impact on increasing speed or improving walking motion.
St Andrew’s was able to purchase the first Bioness device thanks to a generous donation from a patient’s family.
Patients may be able to access financial assistance for the Bioness foot-drop system from their private health fund or the government. St Andrew’s also has a rental scheme in place to help patients with affordability.
