Restoring the ability to walk is a key step toward independence
Restoring the ability to walk is a key step toward independence

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if the device can help me?
The easiest way is to Contact Us. We’ll evaluate what
you tell us and get back to you with a preliminary opinion. You may also consider the following:

The Up n’ Go is intended to assist users who have impaired ability to stand/walk because of a disability or
illness. Your impairment could involve lower extremity weakness or control (balance).

Lower Extremity Weakness

In order to stand, you must have sufficient leg strength to carry your entire body weight. With the Up n’ Go,
a part of your weight is supported and so it may be possible for you to stand and walk even though
you may not be able to do so on your own… and even if you have not been able to do so for some time.

The key is that you and the Up n’ Go working together must have enough strength to lift your entire body weight.
If you have no strength at all in your legs or very limited strength, the Up n’ Go cannot help you. But if
you have moderate lower extremity strength remaining… even if you cannot stand on your own at this time…
the Up n’ Go may give you an important alternative to life in a wheelchair.

Balance

If you have adequate lower extremity strength but cannot stand safely because of balance issues, the Up n’ Go
also may help you. The device supports you inside the rolling frame and substantially improves your ability to
stand with stability.

Note that arm strength and coordination are not required to successfully use the device. The Up n’ Go can be
used hands free.

Can I use the device on my own?
It depends on your upper body strength and agility. In order to use the device without assistance, you need to
accomplish all of the following:

  1. Put on the suspension unit. This involves slipping the
    unit between your legs and fastening the front and back together using two clips.
  2. Position the mobility structure around the wheelchair, chair or bed on which you are sitting.
  3. Lower first one and then the other lifting arm on the
    mobility unit and slip a ring attached to
    the suspension unit over a corresponding peg on the
    lifting arm. (This task is very easy to do for a caregiver, but can be challenging for many users doing
    it alone.) The issue is that you must be able to hold down the lifting arm while attaching the ring.
    The lifting arm resists being held down by about ¼ of the total support force that the user
    requires to stand. If, for example, the Up n’ Go is adjusted to give 50 pounds of support to help you
    stand, you would have to hold down the lifting arm by 12.5 pounds in order to attach the harness ring.
    A caregiver has no difficulty doing this, but it can be a difficult task for many users doing it alone.

In summary, while it is possible for some people to use the Up n’ Go on their own, most users find it desirable to use the device with a caregiver

CAUTION: While the Up n’ Go improves the standing stability of users, if the user is subject
to sudden loss of trunk control, it is necessary to have a caregiver immediately behind the device for safety.
Note that if a sudden loss of trunk control causes the user to begin to fall, the device will continue to support
the user making it much easier for the caregiver to prevent a fall.

What does it cost?
The Up n’ Go standard adult and pediatric units both sell for $2650 plus shipping (about $75 depending on location). There are several accessories available (please see the Models section), but most users can use the standard or pediatric unit as is.
Can I use the device in my home?

Flooring

To effectively use the Up n’ Go the wheels must be able to roll easily on the floor surface. Wood and tile
floors are ideal surfaces. Some carpets are also acceptable surfaces but the depth of the carpet pile can affect
usability. Deep pile (soft) carpets and carpets with significant surface texture are not recommended. Door
sills can also represent significant obstacles for the Up n’ Go. Metal strip sills are usually no problem, but
wooden door sills can be impossible to cross.

Doors

The standard width units will pass through a door opening of 29″ (74 cm) (typically called a 30″ door). Many but not all interior doors are 30″ doors. In particular, bathroom doors are often narrower and sometimes have openings as narrow as 23″ (58 cm). A 23″ door is too narrow for the standard unit.

A slim width unit is available by special order. We recommend the standard width unit unless you require the slim width because of door width limitations. The standard width unit is easier to use with a wheelchair (to accomplish assisted sit to stand). The standard width is designed to slip outside most wheelchairs. The slim width unit is too narrow to fit around the outside of most wheelchairs and so in approaching a wheelchair one side slips inside and the other side slips outside the frame of the wheelchair. The assisted sit to stand maneuver can still be accomplished, but it is somewhat more difficult than with the standard unit.

An additional consideration regarding doors is whether or not the door has a wooden sill.) The Up ‘n Go will not roll over most wooden door sills.

Stairs

The Up n’ Go cannot be used on stairs. Using the Up n’ Go near a down staircase can present a serious risk to
the user. If a wheel of the device slips over the edge of the staircase the device will become extremely
unstable and falling is likely. The Up n’ Go should never be used in a room where there is access
to a down staircase.

Furniture

The Up n’ Go is designed to slide under most beds and many chairs and sofas. This enables the user to back into
the desired furniture and use the device to help them sit on the furniture. The same is true when using the
device to get up from the furniture. In order for the Up n’ Go to slide under the furniture there must be a
gap between the floor and the bottom of the furniture of 6 inches (15 cm). The Up n’ Go will also fit around
many typical kitchen or dining room chairs so that the user may sit/ stand with the support of the device.

Kitchen

The Up n’ Go is small enough to be used successfully in most kitchens. Tasks such as using the sink or stove
and even loading/ unloading a dishwasher can be accomplished. The “hands free” capability of the Up n’ Go
allows the user to carry items while walking.

Bathroom

The Up n’ Go is small enough to pass through some but not all bathroom doors. (Please see the discussion on
doors). Once inside the bathroom, the device can usually turn around and back around the commode. Thus the
Up n’ Go has the capability to assist the user in sitting/ standing when using the commode in many home
situations. Removing the support harness from the rolling
Suspension Unit and then removing the
Suspension Unit can be accomplished alone by some users but
often requires the assistance of a care giver (Please see
Can I use the device on my own?)

Outdoor Use

The key question is the roughness of the path that will be used. The Up n’ Go wheels must be able to roll
easily on the surface to be traveled. If the path is smooth and relatively flat there will be no problem.
Most paved paths, driveways and sidewalks are acceptable. Moving over gravel or grass would be extremely
difficult or impossible. A typical sidewalk curb would also be an impossible barrier. Handicapped sidewalk
ramps may or not be passable; it depends on the height of the edge of the ramp.

Will it fit in my car?

The standard device fits easily into minivans and SUV’s. It will not fit into most standard cars. As with other uses, the device must have a clear, relatively smooth path to roll up to the vehicle. A portable Up n’ Go is available, it partially folds to a size of 17″ × 25″ × 40″ (43 cm × 63.5 cm × 102 cm) and will fit into most car trunks.

Where can I see and/or try it?
Dealers in most major US cities have demonstration units which you can try at their location.
See our list of locations to try the Up n’ Go. If you are a
professional health care provider and would like a demonstration at your facility, or for the location
of a dealer nearest you, please Contact Us.
I live outside the US, what choices do I have?
Unfortunately we have dealers in only a few countries outside the United States, so seeing a demonstration might
be difficult. We are happy to ship units which are purchased anywhere in the world. Instructions for the
device are only available in English.
Do I have to adjust the device?
The Up n’ Go has three different types of adjustments as follows:

  1. User height
  2. Desired support force
  3. Suspension Unit comfort

Adjusting for user height and the amount of support involves removing/installing pins in holes in the
Mobility Unit. The pins are removed and installed without tools.
And, of course, unless the unit is to be used with multiple users, this is usually a one-time adjustment.
The Suspension Unit fit is adjustable by pulling or releasing
each of four straps which run through a slip fastener. While in theory this can also be a one-time adjustment,
we find that adjusting the straps at each use seems to enhance the comfortable fit of the
Suspension Unit. The
Suspension Unit can be adjusted by the user (see
Can I use the device on my own?), but it is significantly easier for a
caregiver to perform this adjustment.

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