Stories
Great Strides with the Dynamic Rifton Pacer and Treadmill Base
May 07, 2018
by Shirley Dzikowski, PT
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
New Webinar on Motor Learning
April 17, 2018
by Lori Potts, PT
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
The Magic of the Floating Frame
March 19, 2018
by Amanda Blankley
Saad is a young man who just transitioned to our adult services from his school program in September 2017, and even though I try hard not to have favorites, Saad tests my resolve; he never fails to brighten my day.
When Saad first arrived, he only had the wheelchair he came in. We put him in an old-style Rifton XL Pacer. Saad has cerebral palsy, involving a complex history with both his knees requiring...
News
The Pacer Family Has Grown
June 06, 2017
by Ray Mommsen, Rifton Marketing
You asked for an extra-large Pacer gait trainer. Today we’re happy to announce the arrival of not one but two new versions, the XL Pacer and the E-Pacer, to help you train your larger clients – and save your backs!
The XL Pacer
We’ve been making gait trainers for nearly thirty years, and lately we’ve seen increased demand for bigger models for adults and even large children. Our...
Tips & Advice
Rifton TRAM FAQ
April 04, 2017
by Lori Potts, PT
Questions about the Rifton TRAM? This new resource offers answers to the questions we’ve heard the most along with tips and guidelines to help you get the most out of your transfer and mobility device.
Rifton TRAM FAQ
Evidence Based Practice
Evidence Update: Task-Specific Gait Training Improves Gait Speed
January 05, 2017
by Elena Noble, MPT
Improving gait parameters is a primary goal of therapy intervention. One of these parameters is gait speed because we know there is a link between how fast we walk and how well we interact with our surroundings. (Just notice how frustrated your aging parents become as their gait slows them down.) Simply put, refining gait through therapy ultimately improves speed and boosts quality of life.
There are a...
PT/OT
The Clinical Progression: Treadmill to Overground Ambulation
November 15, 2016
by Elena Noble, MPT
Gait training is central in the rehabilitation of individuals with neuromotor disabilities. In clinical circles, there is considerable debate over whether gait training is best performed over a treadmill or over ground. Is one intervention more effective than the other? The research on this topic is inconclusive at best. What we do know, however, is that studies comparing the two gait training approaches...
PT/OT
Which Should I Use For Gait Training?
May 17, 2016
by Lori Potts, PT
Since our newest items, the Rifton TRAM and the New Pacer both have the capacity to support walking practice and have similar prompts, including arm prompts, trunk support, and walking saddle, therapists often wonder which to choose for ambulation or gait training.
Because the TRAM does a lot more than gait training – it’s a three-in-one device that combines sit-to-sit...
News
Four Training Videos on the Rifton Pacer
February 22, 2016
by Lori Potts, PT
Rifton now offers four educational videos about the Pacer. Since this product includes a host of new features, we think you’ll find they are excellent staff training tools.
Video 1: Getting to know the Multi-Position Saddle Adjustments 1:43
The Multi-Position Saddle is a fabulous new positioning accessory. Learn how to adjust the saddle for height, angle, and depth to provide the best possible...