When 28-year-old Sarah Maynard came to Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital on Christmas Day in 2024 for inpatient treatment, she could not sit at the edge of her bed without losing her balance.
Now, nearly five months later in outpatient therapy, she has started to walk without the help of mobility aids because of the Rise&Walk.
For nearly a month, Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital and Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital in Johnstown have offered the Rise&Walk robotic-assisted gait-training technology developed by Healing Innovations, Inc., to patients experiencing neurological and mobility impairments.
“As a hospital, we are just constantly evolving,” therapist Julie Stringari said. “We’re unique because we’re so patient-centered. We want the best outcomes for our patients, and that’s why we invested in this technology. It’s proven that it works.”
The gait trainer device helps retrain standing and walking through neuroplasticity, which stimulates the brain to learn new movement patterns, according to a pamphlet from the hospital.
Using Rise&Walk, therapists design personalized and engaging rehabilitation sessions that provide patients early introductions to standing and walking, increase repetitions and time in actual walking motions and offer easy ways to progress, the pamphlet said. The equipment allows therapists to track patient progress as they improve and regain function, which helps enhance therapy efficiency.
The versatile technology has gait, seated or balance modes to tailor to individual needs and promote the “highest level of functional recovery for the patient,” according to the hospital pamphlet.
Although the treatment helps meet a patient’s varying levels and individual goals, whether it’s fall prevention therapy, gait training or concentrated on improving strength, endurance or coordination, the Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital has seen the most use of the device in outpatient settings. Stringari said the outpatient population has reached a level of need and challenge for the proven-to-show-progress, high-intensity options of the Rise&Walk.
“It really gives us, as therapists, a lot of options to challenge our patients,” Stringari said. “We want to do whatever we can to help our patients achieve their ultimate goals and get them back to where they want to be.”
Patients using the Rise&Walk, robotic-assisted gait-training technology that enhances mobility recovery, at Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital and Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital in Johnstown. (Aislinn Kottwitz/Courtesy)Before rising and walking, California resident Maynard arrived at Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital after a Guillain-Barré Syndrome diagnosis led to respiratory failure and a six-week stay in the hospital. Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks the peripheral nerves, caused her to experience numbness and tingling in her feet that led to increased weakness.
Once released, Maynard chose to stick with the northern Colorado care team, “her biggest cheerleaders,” for outpatient therapy.
Her patient-centered rehabilitation team pushed her to improve while also staying patient during the process, helping her go from practically bedridden to taking steps with a walker.
“After inpatient therapy, I obviously had a choice on where to go for outpatient, as well, but my immediate choice was to come back here for outpatient because of how amazing the staff is here,” Maynard said.
Yet, her greatest strides in recovery started nearly a month ago when she set foot into Rise&Walk sessions. In just a short amount of time, the equipment has helped her progress, going from multiple people supporting her efforts to take steps to regaining enough mobility to begin walking without the assistance of a cane, walker or person.
The technology has gradually helped Maynard get closer to her ultimate goal — reaching total independence and returning to her normal life.
“With this machine … you can let go of your body completely and let everything else take control,” she said. “It’s nice having that extra freedom and mobility.”
The equipment has not only helped Maynard’s mobility improve, but Stringari has seen development in her endurance, as well, another reason to love the Rise&Walk.
Maynard said her physical therapy sessions using the elliptical-like machine brought back the feeling of breaking a sweat and getting a full workout in but in an environment that safely secures patients in a harness to avoid falls or injuries.
Patients using the Rise&Walk, robotic-assisted gait-training technology that enhances mobility recovery, at Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital and Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital in Johnstown. (Aislinn Kottwitz/Courtesy)Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital, stroke and brain injury certified and ranked in the top 10% of inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationwide, can also utilize the equipment with inpatient individuals suffering from stroke and brain injuries. Stringari said work with the Rise&Walk has mostly centered on outpatient people, as therapists continue to learn the new technology and determine who will best benefit from the offering.
For more information, contact the Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital at (970) 619-3400.
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