Second Step, Inc. - Veteran User Success Stories

Serving Our Veterans

Using the Gait Harness System, our clients are experiencing stronger, faster recoveries, and better psychological and physical health

Success Stories

The right exercise, for the right duration, at the right time, can promote neurotrophic growth factors. Therapists and patients should try different things, until they find the method which works.

The most commonly reported goal that clients in rehabilitative programs report is to be able to walk again. In these video stories you will see how therapy opportunities are increasing for many who are using the Second Step Gait Harness System.

The therapists working with these users believe that recovery is a better approach than adaptation. Throughout our website, you will see how the GHS is different from everything else you have seen, increasing your rehabilitation and recovery opportunities with proven results, empowering both the caregiver and the user.


	Donald - Serving our Country Donald is a active duty veteran who served our country several years during the Korean War. Military stressors included a traumatic brain injury, PSTD, and shell fragment wounds following blast exposure, at which time he was jettisoned from his jeep. In the past several years, Donald has experienced a heart attack, a stroke, and multiple repeated rib, arm, hand and leg fractures resulting from falls. Increasing falls have led to multiple hospitalizations and increasingly protracted stays in residential skilled nursing facilities. Six weeks ago, Donald took his first steps, after not having stood or walked in over 6 months. He required a one person assist with transfer and ambulation. You will now observe Donald transferring into the Gait Harness System II independently from the bedside, and walking through multiple halls of his residential nursing facility, requiring no staff assistance. In fact, he is walking so quickly, it is hard for staff to keep up with him! Donald is excited to be getting stronger each day, and is regaining his spirit. Obviously, Donald's increasing mobility will allow him residential options outside of skilled nursing care.

	John - Walking using Second Step, After not Walking for over 15 years John is a T-11/12 incomplete. He sustained both an SCI and above knee amputation secondary to a MVA. He had not tried to walk in 15 years. John’s therapist has graduated him, using the Gait Harness System, through 2 prosthetics and orthotics to what you now see. He has progressed from crawling, to ambulation with a standard walker plus stand-by assistance for safety. He currently is walking up to 1500 feet in the Gait Harness System and 600 feet with a rolling walker. John exemplifies both therapeutic complexity and ease of use application of the Gait Harness System with both a prosthetic and orthotic. Working with the Second Step Gait Harness System also allows the therapist to safely implement neuromuscular electro-stimulation to John’s muscle in his leg. The right exercise, for the right duration, at the right time can promote neurotrophic growth factors. Products such as the Second Step, which accommodates treatment techniques like this, not only have a specific rehabilitation intent, but also a hologic focus.

	Norman- Saves his Leg, and Walks Again Norman walks again after failed back surgery, and secondary complications which lead to a scheduled surgery to amputate his leg. He also needed an additional diagnosis and treatment in the area of his C-spine. Norman traveled 65 miles to physical therapy, every day. He has advanced beyond the expectations of his MD, DPM and his orthotist in under 1 month. Norman has so improved lower extremity function that the amputation was not only cancelled, he is able to walk again. His therapy involved ambulation in the Gait Harness System (GHS) with his RGO (reciprocating gait orthosis) for 45 minutes a session. Norman progressed from 5 minute sessions in the parallel bars to 45 minutes in GHS in just 1 week. After 6 weeks of therapy, he had significant improvements in lower extremity circulation, muscle mass strength, bone density and cardiovascular studies, including a lowering of his cholesterol and a reduction in his hypertension. Norman's story shows that hope is alive...and is living proof of how someone can move from being wheelchair confined, and looking at a future filled with challenges related to an amputation, to resuming an independent life. Walking, and recovery, are possible!

	Greg - Exercise Reactivates Reorganization in Chronic Brain Injury Greg experienced a closed head injury about year ago. His video is an example of how good therapy seeks novel applications of new and current rehabilitation paradigms to stimulate, irritate and reactivate the impaired central nervous system. Greg's activity here is creative, complex, and involves in-depth cognitive processing.

	Eric- Seeing is Believing If someone wants to walk again, then why not try? Neuroplasticity is a term that describes the brain's ability to reorganize by forming new neural connections. Eric is a T6 complete. Eric has worked very hard to be able to walk and stand on his own again. He now requires minimal assistance for guidance of his GHS. Eric is wearing carbon fiber KAFOs with stance control knees. As you can see, the gait harness works very well with his braces. With Eric, seeing is believing.

	Knute- Walks again after 22 years -Taking the Road to Recovery Knute was 11 years old when he experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury following an automobile accident. Knute had never walked since, as he was at high risk for falls. 22 years later, here begins his story. Knute is learning to walk again WITHOUT any braces or computerized assistance, safely with trained family/staff members. He began walking just a few steps; now, he is walking up to 800 feet per session. After 22 wheelchair bound years, he has come a long way in a short period of time, and, using the GHS, is making progress beyond anyone's expectations. While walking, he is improving the quality of his social communications with others, at an eye-to-eye level. Knute is proud to share his video showing his "dream come true!" He is proving when aiming high, anything is possible!

	Knute- Part 2 - Holding onto his Dream 25 Years Later: Taking the Road to Recovery As you know from Knute’s video above, he had a TBI resulting from a MVA from when he was just 11 years old. In the Second Step Gait Harness System, he experienced his first steps, walking for the first time in 22 years. Now 36 years old, Knute is walking over 1,000 feet per session! There is no end in sight for Knute's continued progress. He is improving, one step at a time, and is finding that all his consistent hard work is making his dream to walk again come true. This latest video shows Knute using the GHS with greater ease, increased drive, and much improved posture and endurance.

	Knute- Part 3 - Recovering His Spirit, Changing His Life This latest video update from Knute shows incredible progress in several areas. Knute has expanded into walking in all available hallways at his day center, transitioning back and forth between carpeting, linoleum tile, and rubberized flooring. Knute is walking 1,400 feet per 20 min. session -- a 40% distance and endurance improvement in 11 months! He has increased his walking speed in the past 7 weeks from 48 ft./min. to 70 ft./min. Due to his increased strength and endurance, Knute has abandoned his former power scooter, and now uses a manual wheelchair when he isn't walking. As you will see in this video, Knute no longer requires transfer assistance into the GHS via 2-3 staff members and a mat table; he brings himself to standing, independently, straight up from his manual wheelchair. Knute continues to experience commensurate cognitive and psychological gains. He walks with such drive and determination, he has earned the affectionate nick name of "Knute the Brute" from staff, who admire his intense commitment and remark he shows the focus and persistence of a true athlete. As always, Knute continues to be a inspiration to other program participants and their families!

	Amy- New Freedom Found from Walking Again using Second Step 3 years ago, Amy suffered a T-11 spinal cord injury following a MVA. Her local doctor and therapist told her she would never walk again. Amy had different plans! She began using the Second Step Gait Harness System at a serious spinal cord injury recovery center. Within 9 months, you can see the progress she has made. Amy now has her own Gait Harness System at home, and uses it daily to go for walks outside with her boyfriend. Amy is highly motivated, and is determined to recover.

	David - Home Users find Recovery David suffered from a stroke and then severe muscle atrophy in his legs. He began using the Gait Harness System at the end of 2008. Within 12 weeks he went from walking 20 feet to walking 240 feet each session. David uses the Gait Harness System twice per week, and is very proud of his progress. This video story shows how clinical hallways can become 2-lane, active therapy corridors. Notice how the caregiver and user have the room and freedom to walk safely. The caregiver and the user have great control and easy maneuverability over the GHS, without having to wrestle with awkward, heavy or resistant equipment. You can see David glides smoothly down the hallway, without intense effort. In the 10 months since this video was filmed, David reports that due to his weekly use of the Gait Harness System, he has progressed right out of using the GHS! He is currently using just a cane for partial walking assistance. David commented that prior to beginning use of the GHS, he was entirely wheelchair bound, and wasn't able to walk at all. He is delighted at his new freedom and independence.

	Maria- One Possible Solution for People who Need Extra Help to Walk This video will educate you on an effective, hands-free, safe, and efficient client transfer process using the TotaLiftII chair, for ultimate transfer and transport flexibility, into the Gait Harness System. This transfer process involves no complex set-up, bending nor lifting. The Gait Harness System and the TotalLiftII are individual systems which offer much when used separately, but even more when used together.

In the context of the continuing and escalating need for rehabilitative therapy for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological, lower extremity amputation, and stroke populations, these stories offer hope that there is opportunity for recovery. You have seen concrete examples of how using the GHS in therapy has made walking again possible for many.

Do you or your facility use the Gait Harness System? If so, click here to tell us your story.

No problem is too big…if the right people, with the right treatment, and the right System, go at it the right way

:: HOME USERS

:: CLINICIANS

:: VETERANS

….. renewed hope of recovery
“Your videos of brain injured folks, like my son, using the GHS brings tears to my eyes because it reminds us to never give up and to keep trying new things.”
Bonnie P., parent of user, Eugene OR

.....healthy opportunities for recovery
“Just this morning the Gait Harness System was bringing some amazement and tears to staff members as a student used it successfully.”
David Cacciatore, Physical Therapist, Lane School, Houston TX

…..keeping therapists & patients safe
“Patients cannot fall using the GHS as the harness is designed to support their full body weight if necessary. No walker or cane can compare to the safety of this System.”
Nicole Prieto-Lewis, Director of the Gait and Balance Laboratory, Gainesville VA, Gainesville FL

Many clients have found Second Step, and learned about the Gait Harness System, because of their interest in one or more of the following:

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At Second Step, Inc. we specialize in helping people walk and stand again. Our product line includes:

second step gait harness system, gait harness system, adult harnesses, Gait Harness System II , pediatric harnesses