Partial Weight Bearing
An earlier class of partial weight bearing devices sometimes called lifts is in wide usage in professional physical
therapy settings. The best of these devices have many of the same features as the Up n’ Go. They can support the user
when moving from sitting to standing and provide constant support while allowing the user to raise and lower their
hips when walking to achieve a normal gait. These devices are quite large and typically are used in conjunction with
a treadmill.
Comparing to the Up n’ Go
The most startling difference between lifts and the Up n’ Go is the size of the devices. The Up n’ Go weighs less than
twenty pounds and moves about freely as the user moves. In addition to providing much more flexibility in use by the
therapist (For example no treadmill is required so the user can walk at their own pace over most flat surfaces), the
device is small enough to by used in most home settings. Thus a user can progress from therapy to home use while
retaining the same support capability. A further important difference is that the Up n’ Go sells for about a third of
the price of most lifts. As a result it provides an economical alternative in the professional setting and a sensible
price for the home user.
