A serious injury below the knee, or surgery on your foot or ankle, often comes with three words that change daily life for a while: non weight bearing. It means keeping all your weight off the injured leg while it heals, sometimes for a few weeks, sometimes for months. It is one of the hardest parts of recovery, not just because of the pain, but because of how much independence it quietly takes away. Ordinary things, like making a cup of tea, getting to the bathroom or popping to the shops, suddenly needs planning.
The good news is that recovery is a journey, and your needs change as you move through it. What helps you in the first week is rarely what you need by week six. At StrideOn we have built our support around that journey, with the right equipment for each stage, so you can stay as mobile and independent as possible from the day you come home to the day you are back on your feet. Here is how that journey looks, and how each of our products fits into it.
In the first days and weeks after surgery or injury, the priority is rest, elevation and keeping the swelling down. Standing and moving are tiring, and you may not be able to manage much on your own just yet. This is where a wheelchair earns its place, and specifically one designed with a recovering leg in mind.
Our Levimate is a lightweight aluminium wheelchair with the option of an adjustable leg rest, so you can raise and support your injured leg or foot exactly as your recovery needs. You can push yourself when you have the energy, using the self propel wheels, or have someone push you when you do not, using the attendant controls. Footrests, parking brakes and a fitted seatbelt come as standard, the 16 inch seat fits through standard doorways, and it folds away for easy transport. It keeps you comfortable, elevated and part of daily life at a point when getting up is the last thing you want to do.
Think of the Levimate as the foundation of your recovery. It gives your leg the rest it needs without leaving you stuck in one room.
As the early swelling settles and you feel steadier, most people are keen to get upright. This is the stage where a knee walker changes everything. You rest your injured leg on a padded platform and scoot along with your good leg, hands free, injured limb fully supported, with no need to hop or wrestle with crutches.
We offer two NHS Approved knee walkers, because no two recoveries or homes are quite the same.
Both fold for the car, both free up your hands with a parking brake, and both give your injured leg full support. Many clinicians see this as safer than crutches, where the temptation to put weight down too early can undo good healing. Our StrideOn knee walker is also the only clinically approved knee walker on the market, tested by the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics at Torbay Hospital.
When you are ready to move from the Levimate to a knee walker, we simply arrange an exchange, collecting the wheelchair and delivering your knee walker, and we are happy to talk you through which model suits you best.
The final stage is often the one people underestimate. When your clinician gives you the go ahead to start putting weight through your leg again, you rarely go from non weight bearing to walking freely overnight. You build up gradually, and for a while you still want something steady to lean on, and somewhere to sit when you need a rest.
That is exactly what the Rollermate is for. It is a fully loaded, lightweight rollator that supports you as you move from partial to full weight bearing. It comes with a detachable basket, a detachable backrest so you can sit and rest on longer trips, a crutch holder, and an easy to use braking system with a parking function. It folds down small enough for the boot of a car and stands neatly in a corner at home. As your confidence grows and you spend more time on your feet, the Rollermate is there for the moments you still need support.
When the time comes, we exchange your knee walker for the Rollermate in the same simple way, keeping you mobile right through to the finish line.
Because recovery is a journey, we designed our Premium Support Package to move with you. Rather than buying three separate pieces of equipment, you hire what you need for each stage and exchange as you progress, from the Levimate, to a knee walker, to the Rollermate. A courier fee applies to each exchange, to cover delivery, collection and return. Most of our customers hire, since a single stage often lasts only a few weeks, and everything arrives cleaned, maintained and ready to use, delivered to your door and collected again when you are done.
Every recovery is different, and yours will follow its own timeline under the guidance of your surgeon or physiotherapist. Our job is simply to make sure that whatever stage you are at, the right support is on hand. Our team, some of whom have used our equipment through their own recoveries, will help you choose and guide you every step of the way.
What does non weight bearing mean?
Non weight bearing means keeping all of your weight off the injured leg while it heals, usually on the instruction of your surgeon or physiotherapist. Depending on the injury it can last from a couple of weeks to several months.
What mobility aids help during a non weight bearing recovery?
In the early weeks a wheelchair with leg elevation, such as the Levimate, helps you rest and stay mobile. As you get steadier, a knee walker lets you get upright and move independently. When you begin weight bearing again, a rollator such as the Rollermate supports the transition.
Is a knee walker better than crutches?
Many people find a knee walker far easier than crutches. It supports your injured leg fully, frees up your hands, and removes the need to hop, which puts less strain on your wrists and shoulders. It also reduces the temptation to put weight down too early.
Can I move between different StrideOn products as I recover?
Yes. That is the idea behind our Premium Support Package. As your recovery progresses, we exchange your current equipment for the next stage, from the Levimate, to a knee walker, to the Rollermate. A courier fee applies to each exchange.
Do I have to buy the equipment, or can I hire it?
Most customers hire, because each stage often lasts only a few weeks. Everything arrives cleaned, maintained and ready to use, and we collect it again when you are finished. You can also buy if you prefer.
Wherever you are on your recovery journey, StrideOn has the right support ready to go. Recovering from a below the knee injury is hard enough without losing your independence too. From the Levimate wheelchair, to our StrideOn and Orthomate knee walkers, to the Rollermate, we deliver the right equipment to your door and exchange it as you progress. Explore our range, or call our friendly team on 01823 216202 and we will help you find exactly what you need for this stage of your recovery. |