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Walkers
The
Hart Walker is a customised, orthotic, walking
frame which encourages a normal gait pattern. It
consists of bracing around the chest, pelvis and
the lower limbs with movable joints at the hips,
knees and ankles, which help guide each step
while preventing any excessive or unnatural
movements e.g. scissoring. The extent of the
upper body bracing varies - some children may
require only a simple waist strap, while others
may require support to their chest and
shoulders.
The
bracing is attached to a wheeled frame which
allows hands free mobility. It is fitted with
front swivel wheels which can be made to turn on
the spot by the child's ability to side step.
Although some children may take a little while
to learn how to make their new found steps take
them in a desired direction, once mastered, the
frame will provide good manoeuvrability.
As
the child gains strength and co-ordination and
becomes more able to support his/her weight, the
support mechanism is adjusted.
WHO IS DAVID HART?
David Hart is a trained medical engineer working
in the United Kingdom. After years working in a
Medical Company, David now has his own clinic
based in his home in Keighley. David developed
the revolutionary Hart Walker after a family
with a child with cerebral palsy visited him and
asked for help. The Walker is now sought-after
worldwide and has the potential to help
thousands of children with a disability to walk.
WHAT IS THE HART WALKER?
Although it looks deceptively simple, the Hart
Walker actually has up to 1,000 working
components. It is a walking aid, which allows
children with severe physical disabilities,
especially those with cerebral palsy, to learn
to stand and to experience hands free walking.
As
the child gains strength and co-ordination the
support mechanism is adjusted.
HOW DOES THE HART WALKER HELP CHILDREN WITH
CEREBRAL PALSY?
This Walker allows children to experience
walking often for the first time in their lives.
As well as providing hands-free mobility, the
Walker can also lead to a number of other health
and social benefits. Parents have reported it
can improve general fitness, build strength,
muscle control, balance and co-ordination.
Use
of the Walker allows easier social contact and
increased self esteem that comes with standing,
walking and playing at peer level. General
health can also be improved as children who are
constantly seated can experience respiratory and
digestive problems.
What
some parents have observed!
Their child finds it easier to play and interact
with other children. They also report their
child has grown faster since
using the Walker and their general health and
social skills have improved.
WHY IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WALKING FRAMES?
The Hart Walker is an orthotic device, which
enables children with moderate to severe
disabilities to have hands free mobility. It is
based on normal standing alignment and provides
a normal walking pattern. There are no other
Walkers which allow this.
WHERE IS THE HART WALKER AVAILABLE?
During February 1997, a physiotherapist and an
orthotist from The Spastic Centre were trained
by David Hart to prescribe, fit and to provide
intensive follow up of the Hart Walker. They
have subsequently
trained teams in all Australian States and New
Zealand to carry out their own programs.
David Hart is regularly training
physiotherapists and orthotists from around the
world, and therefore The Hart Walker is
available in many other countries e.g. UK, USA,
Canada, Japan, Israel and Norway. The list is
constantly growing.
The
Spastic Centre has been granted the Australian
Licence to import, assemble, fit and monitor
Hart Walkers.
Due
to the world wide demand, a company in Canada is
manufacturing Hart Walkers. David Hart is
responsible for the quality assurance of
production.
WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY?
Cerebral palsy is a term describing a collection
of disorders affecting posture and movement due
to a defect or lesion to the developing brain.
It
is the most common of all disabilities,
affecting one in every 400 babies born in
Australia.
In
premature babies, the incidence of cerebral
palsy can be as high as one in five births.
Cerebral palsy affects each person differently
and the degree of disability varies.
Cerebral palsy is one of the most expensive of
all disabilities to manage. Early detection of
cerebral palsy and intervention can greatly
reduce the severity of the disability.
At
this stage as there is no government funding for
the Hart Walker program.
