Adaptive ambulation

Tips & Advice What To Do About Gait Trainer Seat Sitters June 10, 2019 by Elena Noble, MPT
A theraband in use with a blue Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
Do you work with children whose hips won’t stay forward during gait training? Or those kids who sit on the seat of a gait trainer when you want them upright? Whether from hypotonia or decreased core stabilization, here is a great idea to help cue those hips forward in the Rifton gait trainer. 1. Position the handholds of the Rifton Pacer upside down and towards the back of the top bar. 2. After...
Evidence Based Practice Teens with Cerebral Palsy Benefit from Treadmill Gait Training – A Case Story March 18, 2019 by Connie Johnson, PT, DScPT
A teenage girl with cerebral palsy stands on a treadmill in a gym.
As a pediatric physical therapist working in public schools, I want my students to move, and to move in the same way their peers do. When Rifton came out with the treadmill gait trainer, I was eager to explore increasing exercise intensity for my teenagers with mobility impairments. I was fortunate enough to get funding for one in my school. I went to the literature to look for protocols using gait treadmills for youth with disabilities and did not find much.
Stories Using the MOVE™ Program and Active Seating for Great Gains February 18, 2019 by Deborah Corradi-Scalise, PT, DPT, MA
A portrait of a boy sitting in his red Rifton Activity Chair and smiling.
Justin attends the Children’s Learning Center in Roosevelt, New York, on Long Island. He is now 19 years old, and due to the implementation of the MOVE™ Program Justin has gained significant mobility skills in the past two years. Prior to MOVE™, Justin typically sat in his classroom chair with both feet up on the chair with his head down between his legs. He was unmotivated to move out...
Stories A Dramatic Rehab Triumph with Rifton's TRAM July 16, 2018 by Cindy Tamayo, PT, MA
A patient walking successfully in a Rifton TRAM with the aid of a caregiver.
We have nothing but praise for the Rifton TRAM! As the rehab services manager for a children’s hospital in Honolulu, I am amazed at how this product enables us to deliver rehab services. Our goal is to provide the highest quality care to children with a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and other healthcare needs. The TRAM proved itself to be an effective and safe method to mobilize one of...
PT/OT Writing SMART Goals for Adaptive Equipment May 28, 2018 by Margaret Rice, PT
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When using adaptive equipment it is important to have high standards for goal writing and data collection. Adaptive equipment spans a huge range from gait trainers to pencil grips. How many times have you seen adaptive equipment that was recommended for a student not being used properly or to its full potential? It is important to establish SMART goals for adaptive equipment the moment it is put into use...
Stories Great Strides with the Dynamic Rifton Pacer and Treadmill Base May 07, 2018 by Shirley Dzikowski, PT
A client uses the Rifton Pacer to walk on a treadmill.
I have had great success with the dynamic Rifton Pacer gait trainer matched with Rifton’s treadmill base. Because my clients are completely supported, including their hands and arms, they are safe to work over a moving treadmill base. Some of my clients even “run” on the treadmill at 2.0 and 2.5 mph as I have placed them up a bit higher and they learn how to move their feet quicker. This...
PT/OT Tips and Tricks for Getting More Out of Your Rifton TRAM April 23, 2018 by Christy Hupka, PT
A young client standing and walking with his physical therapist with the aid of a Rifton TRAM.
The Rifton TRAM provides a lot of flexibility within our school setting for standing, walking, and transfers.  Mostly it is used for safe transfers that would typically require a two-person lift.  However, in one of my schools it has provided a great solution for two students who needed more flexibility in their standing and walking routines at school. Here are two examples: Case 1:  This...
PT/OT New Webinar on Motor Learning April 17, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A young teenager standing in a Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer doing and activity with a caregiver.
On April 12, we hosted a webinar, Progressive Gait Training: Motor Learning Strategies and the Research, discussing motor skill acquisition through practice, feedback and prompt reduction. It concluded with a demonstration of the Rifton Pacer and tips for therapeutic and functional use of the Pacer emphasizing the benefits of dynamic support and the reduction of physical assistance to increase...
Stories Using the TRAM for Safe Transfers and Mobility in the School Setting March 13, 2018 by Terri Goebel, PT, Kellie Ray, ESE Teacher and Tara Wayland, OTR/L
A young boy uses the rifton tram for safe transfers to standing and ambulation over the carpet of the gym.
Our team of therapists and educators works together to provide opportunities for functional mobility to our students throughout the school day.The challenges we face include a variety of health diagnoses, behavioral management issues, and cognitive and physical deficits. These situations require team problem solving for safe and efficient physical management of the student while maximizing participation in...
Webinars Standers – What does the research say?
A young boy smiling in a Rifton Prone Stander.
This 30-minute webinar gives an overview of current research on the topic of standing and adaptive standers as well as specific tips for therapeutic and functional use of Rifton standers.
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