Evidence-Based practice confirms: Gait Harness System safely helps people learn to stand and walk again
Below enjoy feedback Gait Harness System practitioners have shared regarding client/patient dynamic functional recoveries when learning to stand and walk again post experiencing a disabling condition, illness, accident, or injury.
Our practitioners are convinced the Second Step GHS offers features and benefits which exceed a standing frame, a walking frame, a gait trainer, or a walker.
Each client and patient has individual goals, individual issues, and individual situations. Our goal is to make help make walking again, for those who need it, a reality.
“I am suggesting my patients get a Second Step GHS device to them, because we know that over-ground training gives the best recovery results.”
– Carlos Lima MD, Department of Neurology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
“When our clinic opened, we made sure one of the first pieces of equipment we had was a GHSII from Second Step. The GHSII is a valuable piece of equipment that can be a multi-exercise station and a feedback machine for gait training. Of course, it is also a gait training device that can be used indoors or outdoors. We utilize the GHSII on outdoor paths during nice spring, summer, and fall days. The hand holds are a great new feature as they have allowed our clients to have a more comfortable hand placement during their use of the GHSII. The GHSII allows clinicians here at STAR to create a variety of fun and challenging exercises that breaks the monotony of traditional therapy, and achieves better client outcomes.”
-Joe Bongiovanni, CBIS CDSS, Chief Operating Officer, Strength Training & Recovery Corp., Grand Blanc MI
“Using the GHS has changed my patient’s life forever. At first, he needed 2 people just to assist him standing. Now, he is ambulating 40 feet with only minimal assist to advance his left leg. He has also built up trunk stability and tolerance enough to weight bear through his legs. He continually verbalizes his excitement with each new gain. He wouldn’t be walking if it weren’t for the GHS. I can’t thank you enough for helping him achieve his goals.”
– Stacy Tomczak DPT, PT, Optimal Health Institute, Addison IL
“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 Research Laboratory, Gainesville VA, Gainesville FL
“The Gait Harness System is a truly marvelous device that could no doubt help thousands of people actually regain their mobility, not just spend the rest of their lives being pushed around in a wheel chair or riding on a scooter.”
– Joe Mitchell, Financial Aid Center for Long Term Care, Inc., Grants Pass OR
“The new Gait Harness works wonderfully! I have attached some video clips of Joe walking for the first time in the Second Step. He did over 300 ft, and at one point his assistant let him go on his own. Everyone is celebrating his successful venture in the Second Step! Grace Center can’t thank you enough, you are truly bringing a gift to our clients. Thank You!”
– Renè Knight, Operations Manager, Grace Center for Adult Day Services, Corvallis OR
“We have been using our GHSII for years, and love it. We have incorporated it with the Interactive Metronome for gait training amputees. Our adult and pediatric GHSIIs are both working wonderfully. We are even able to use one for the adults who are tall kneeling for gait training.”
– Sophia Bong, President and CEO, Strength Training & Recovery Corp., Grand Blanc MI
“I have found the GHS really useful with clients on both the psychological and physical level. It’s made a huge difference with clients for whom other types of equipment have not worked, and with clients who haven’t been willing to work with any other type of equipment because of a fear of falling. It’s uplifting to see clients no longer have the fear of falling, and be willing to do therapy. Clients who were hard to work with are now very motivated, and the staff is also motivated to help them. Many of these clients have never been able to successfully ambulate prior to using the GHS.”
– Guy Brock, Director of Rehab/Sleep Center/EEG, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego CA
“The GHS has helped me develop more techniques that have improved the way we treat a variety of patients. The combination of the GHS frame and supportive harness and thigh straps allow me to progress a patient from a very low level up to higher level gait training and more advanced physical activities. The big benefit of the GHS is that it allows me to do all activities in a very, very safe environment for myself and the patient. The GHS will not allow the patient to fall. It allows the patient to “take a break,” by just sitting down in a relaxed position without me needing to transfer them to a chair or mat table or have myself or a second person drag a wheelchair behind. The patient is completely secure. Since nearly all of my work is without an aide, the GHS is like another set of hands and probably provides just as much safety as an aide would. It probably paid for itself within a few months of use.”
– M. Rosalia Arellano MSPT, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Department, San Diego CA
“We utilize the GHS with most of our SCI patients. Mainly with long leg braces, but we do have some clients who are becoming more ambulatory and it really helps establish a more normal gait pattern. We are having a lot of success utilizing this equipment.”
– Michael Haynes PT, Manager of the Brain and Spine Recovery Center, Brackenridge Hospital, Austin TX
“I have a group of patients at a facility who were all told they would never walk again—after using the Gait Harness System, only two now use a wheelchair as their primary locomotion. I use the GHS daily with almost all my patients. I have had great success using the GHS with and without braces with tetras and paras of all levels. The unique harness is extremely comfortable, works very well with the braces, and reduces the number of seated rest breaks with any standing activity. The GHS allows for reinforcement of newly learned gait patterns, in a real world situation. The GHS has allowed our program to be very challenging, efficient, and safe at the same time. Many of the higher level activities would require two or three staff members if it were not for the GHS. I cannot say enough about the ease of use and its ability to reduce the fear of falling.”
Read more here
– William Thornton MPT, Level 11 Physical Therapy Clinics founder, Holly MI
“We have an elderly female participant with a history of severe osteoporosis and hip fractures, who hasn’t walked for quite some time due to fear of falling and progressive weakness. She was SO excited to walk again using the GHS!”
Read more here.
– Cheri Babb RN, MN, CNS, Executive Director, Grace Center for Adult Day Services, Corvallis OR
“Just this morning the GHS was bringing some amazement and tears to staff members as a student used it successfully.”
– David Cacciatore PT, Lane School, Houston TX
At age 42, Ron collapsed in his doctor’s office parking lot, awakening to find he was paralyzed from the waist down. “Ron’s a very serious and intense person. he’s a perfectionist. No matter how big a step Ron makes, he always wants to take one more. He’s not a quitter. Within a month, Ron was walking 150 feet with the Gait Harness System. It was an amazing moment. It was unbelievable. We were blown away.”
– Gillian Medieros, OTR/L, Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Haverhill MA
“My client is an 18 year old, who experienced a TBI last year resulting from a shooting accident. He used LiteGait and complained about discomfort in the groin area with that equipment. He is very happy with the GHS, and decided to purchase one for home use.”
– K. Thornton PT, Benefis Healthcare, Great Falls MT
“The Second Step program is most creative. It provides much needed rehabilitation support for individuals with disabilities in long term care facilities. Wishing you every success.”
– Margaret Giannini M.D., F.A.A.P, Director, Office on Disability, Health and Human Services, Washington DC
“I viewed several of your YouTube videos and was astounded. In 25 years of working with disabled elders and non-geriatric adults, I’ve never seen a Gait Harness System or other device so revolutionary. I’ll spread the word to my nationwide network of professional colleagues.”
– Richard O’Toole MSW, President of Informed EldercareDecisions, Inc., nationally published author and speaker, Boston MA
“The GHSII is awesome!! It has been amazing to watch our clients use it! Our PT is very satisfied with it.”
– E. Wilzbacher, MS, Licensed Psychological Practitioner, Clinical Director, NeuroRestorative, Lexington KY
“One of my veteran clients, who has a lower extremity amputation, lives in a rural area in South Carolina and inconsistently received therapy services at home. We helped the family get a GHS for them to work on his ambulation at home once he was discharged.”
– A. Flood, PT, James A Haley Veteran’s Hospital, Tampa FL
“I have a 40-year-old male patient who sustained a TBI in 1994. He and his family were educated in the proper set-up and application of the GHS, and a request was made to have a unit shipped to Tennessee for patient to use in the home for continuity of care and continued functional training. This patient has high needs for mobility assistance, and is in the GHS approximately 6x/week at this time. Without the GHS, he would not have ambulating opportunities.”
– E. King, PT, James A Haley Veteran’s Hospital, Tampa FL
“The GHS promotes a faster gait velocity, which is difficult to do with over-ground ambulation. I have found benefits using the GHS with amputee patients, who are fearful of falling, as it can promote less dependence on the parallel bars. I have observed the Gait Harness System may reduce anxiety and fear of falling, and improve motivation.”
– Debbie Pitsch, PT, Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto CA
“I have a client with a brain stem injury who’s spent 16 years in a wheelchair. I couldn’t find the right equipment on the web. Then voila! Yesterday a colleague said he’d found it. I think he’s right. My client has watched the videos and is excited. It looks like the GHS will really get him moving. We are really pleased to have found your website and are glad you can help.”
– Dru M., Physiotherapist, Queensland Australia
“In 5 years of on-again/off-again rehabilitation, one resident failed to develop independent ambulation to cover even short distances. With integrating the GHS into the treatment regimen, this resident made tremendous progress in independence, ambulating over 200-300 feet.”
– Ester Valazquez, MSPT, HealthSouth Rehabilitation, Tampa FL
“We have treated patients with vestibular disorders, gait abnormalities, CVA, post-op THR, TKR, post amputee, TBI, and patients with a variety of lower extremity balance and coordination problems. Patients with mental dysfunction such as Alzheimer’s Disease can be safely and securely ambulated to provide important health benefits while maintaining a minimal risk to the patient, attending aide, or therapist.”
– Joseph Millen, PT, MTC Program of Excellence Coordinator SORS, Palm Harbor FL
“The Second Step system allows earlier ambulation of stroke and other neurologically compromised patients by creating a virtually fall-free environment. While it may still take two or even three therapy staff in the most involved cases, initiating stepping as early as possible is critical to ultimately achieving functional gait. With the framework and the harness, I was able to move straight to standing and limited gait instead of being stuck in transfer training for the first day or two. It makes the process possible from the bedside, which allowed the staff members to work without a dedicated gym space when necessary.”
– Lisa Stevens, PT, Senior Physical Therapist, Brain and Spine Recovery Center, Brackenridge Hospital, Austin TX
“When properly secured in the GHS, the resident is completely supported, without need for caregiver assistance. Mobility activities can be performed relatively hands-free. The resident’s confidence is restored, which can be a huge barrier removed. The therapist is now able to fine-tune the resident’s mobility and address weakness and other gait deviations.”
– Linda Horn, PT, NCS, Inpatient PT Coordinator, St. Agnes Healthcare, Baltimore MD
“One of our clients has decided to bring their Second Step Gait Harness System to our facility and we have had the opportunity to use it – it is amazing!”
– Kandice Kinney, ATC/R, NASM – CES, Director of Therapy, ADAPT Training, Beaverton OR
“Yay! We’ve unpacked it already, can’t wait to begin using it.”
– Gennifer H., Director of Rehab, LifeHOUSE San Diego, San Diego CA
“You are AWESOME! On behalf of J. and his mom, THANKS! J. continues to use the Second Step as part of his maintenance program. I have to say your product, after all these years, has required minimal costs to maintain! Thanks so much for such terrific customer support for your product! Better than Nordstrom’s!”
– Dennis Yeichi, OTR/L, Irvine CA
“The harness used in the GHS directs supportive forces (or fall recovery forces) through a much larger surface area on both thighs. Other, over-head harnesses direct these forces through the sensitive pubic area, which often leads to decreased treatment time and intensity.”
– William Thornton, MPT, Lead Physical Therapist, The Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery®, Rehab Institute of Michigan, Detroit MI
“Most individuals will not have home access to a body weight support treadmill training system after they leave the clinic, but may be able to implement an over-ground system, like the GHS, that allows for efficient over-ground training reinforcement. I use the GHS in the clinic, and refer it for home use, to accomplish this reinforcement.”
– William Thornton, MPT, Lead Physical Therapist, The Center for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery®, Rehab Institute of Michigan, Detroit MI
“I believe the GHS would be beneficial in the home. It would help with carry over and safe household ambulation, decreasing risk of injury for patient and caregiver. “
– M. Rosalia Arellano, MSPT, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Department, San Diego CA
“Our client is a 13-year-old girl with a diagnosis of hypotonic cerebral palsy. She has very low tone in trunk and is low functioning. She uses the GHS at school and at home. She was a perfect candidate for the GHS, as there aren’t a lot of options for her needs. The classroom aide has started trying it in different places on campus, and she is doing even better than she was in the classroom. She is walking up to 150 feet and is happy!”
– Danielle Cheung, PT, PCS, Pediatric Certified Specialist, Southern CA Pediatric State Rep for APTA, 2010-13 APTA Chair of Pediatrics Sports-Fitness SIG, Southern CA Clinical Director for FUNfitness for Special Olympics, Monrovia CA
At Second Step, we have a passion to help clients preserve and build positive therapy outcomes and improve walking recoveries with our products, including thePractitioner’s Gait Harness System IIand theHome User’s Gait Harness System II.
We believe the GHSII provides greater versatility than any standing frame, walking frame, standing walker or gait trainer. See our Product Demonstration Gallery
to see how the GHSII works.
If you are ready to step forward and learn to walk again in a more natural way, we stand ready to help.
Contact usto request a free quote
Questions about the Second Step Gait Harness System? Call us at 877.299.STEP (7837), visit our website ator Contact us Today at
Now people can get the help they need to stand and walk again. Visit to find out more about the results oriented, clinically proven Second Step Ga
it Harness System (GHS) and NEW Gait Harness System II (GHSII).
Since 1989 the Second Step GHS has been the durable standard of excellence in commercial grade rehab standing frame and walking frame equipment.
The System provides new therapy opportunities to walk again, even for those who have not walked in years, helping people regain healthy functioning after stroke, brain injury, cerebellar degeneration, spinal cord injury, orthopedic, neurological, lower extremity amputation, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other ambulation, gait and balance rehabilitation issues. The GHS is more than just a standing frame, walking frame, gait trainer or walker.
The GHS is used world-wide not only in outpatient and inpatient clinics, but also in the home, with both indoor and outdoor applications.
Discover how Second Step is “Helping People Walk Again” by keeping users, caregivers and practitioners safe, and simultaneously facilitating healthy, functional therapy outcomes.
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