User & Caregiver Focus

The Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer: So Much More Than a Walker

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September 20, 2011 by Elena Noble, MPT

The Pacer is really so much more than a walker or standard gait trainer.  Offered in five sizes from mini to XL adult size gait trainer, it’s a highly supportive, adjustable, versatile adaptive ambulation device that allows children and adults to improve their mobility at their own pace, according to their unique challenges and needs. The Pacer helps provide children and adults a greater quality of life, through health benefits, motor learning, and the opportunity to be upright and move independently.

One of the biggest features making the Pacer so unique is that it is fully customizable. It begins as a plain, prompt-free, basic unit, to which a variety of different supportive prompts can be added (refer to our guidelines for functional use of the Pacer gait trainer document), to meet a user’s individual needs. Unlike gait training with a standard walker, the Pacer’s supportive prompts enable active participation and promote valuable motor learning, strength gains, and mobility. As the child or adult gains skills, improves function and achieves greater independence, the prompts can be removed.

Because the Pacer is specifically designed to offer  prompt reduction over time, through changing the angles of prompts or removing them altogether, it is particularly unique among gait trainers. And this unique capability gives the name “Pacer” a double meaning; it helps clients improve their walking pace through practice, while helping them develop, heal, and become more independent at their own pace.

Five sizes of gait trainers, in six fun colors

Our recent addition of two new sizes – mini and extra-large – allows us to help a broader range of children with disabilities.

“The Pacer gait trainer is perfect for patients like Sean, because it has a lot of support, but you can also peel away the support as he improves. He needs to be able to walk a lot to be able to learn this skill. He can’t do it coming to therapy twice a week for an hour. So he has to be able to walk outside of therapy, and this device lets him do that.” Karen McCain, DPT

The mini was introduced for early-intervention, for children from 9 – 18 months of age. We wanted to give children with disabilities the opportunity to begin walking at the same age as other children. The extra-large opens the possibility of use into adolescence and adulthood. It’s also useful for injured adults going through rehabilitation, like those recovering from spinal cord injuries (SCI) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI), providing them a more supportive device than a non-weight bearing walker, that allows them to practice their walking.

We’ve also made our small size pediatric gait trainer smaller, lighter and more portable. There are three great new Pacer colors, too – raspberry, purple and lime – in addition to the red, blue and champagne that we already carried.

Why the Pacer is better than gait training with a walker

• Prompts mount anywhere; no tools required
• Simple two-handed height adjustment in 1″ increments
• Innovative casters with separate swivel lock, brake, variable drag and one-way ratchet control
• Fits easily in car trunks and through standard door frames
• Easy rear access for transfers from Rifton SoloLift
• Users can face either way (posterior or anterior)

As a therapist, parent or user, what has been your experience using the Pacer gait trainer?