How to Perform the Exercise
Starting Position: Have the patient stand tall, feet hip-width apart, arms relaxed at their sides or lightly resting on an assistive device if needed. Encourage the patient to take a moment to feel the security of the harness before initiating movement.
The Exercise
- Instruct the patient to initiate a step with their lead foot, placing the heel down first and rolling through to the toe, promoting a normal heel-to-toe gait pattern.
- The trolley will glide smoothly along the track as the patient walks forward, providing continuous overhead support throughout the full length of the track.
- Encourage the patient to maintain an upright posture, look ahead (not down), and swing their arms naturally in opposition to their legs.
- Walk the full length of the track, pause, and return to the starting position.
- Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions or duration.
Progressions: As the patient gains strength and confidence, the therapist can introduce variations such as increasing pace, reducing reliance on an assistive device, incorporating obstacles on the ground, or cueing the patient to focus on specific components of their gait pattern.