For more than 80 years, Courage Center has been a leader in incorporating new and innovative technologies into therapies. That legacy continues today: Courage Center Forest Lake is the first site in the Midwest to offer the Interactive Metronome Gait Mate*, which focuses on improving a person’s walking pattern.
The IM Gait Mate is used to augment traditional rehabilitation approaches for children, adolescents and adults with neurological and orthopedic conditions, brain injuries and sport injuries. Gait challenges that can be addressed include:
“We are excited to offer this new resource to our clients,” said Kim Lewandowski, rehabilitation manager at Courage Center Forest Lake. Courage Center plans to offer Gait Mate at all four of its Twin Cities locations within the next few months.
The Interactive Metronome has been in use for nearly 10 years to assess and treat challenges in motor planning, sequencing, coordination and balance. The IM Gait Mate takes this technology on the move by giving people the ability to work on these skills while walking.
It consists of a wireless shoe insert that is activated when a person’s heel strikes the ground. A constant reference tone is heard through wireless headphones set to a desired gait speed; additional, real-time auditory feedback is given to direct the user if their speed is too fast, too slow or right on.
*IM Gait Mate is a registered trademark of Interactive Metronome.
Photo: Gait Mate technology is helping stroke survivor Brent Gerten of Lino Lakes, Minn., perfect his walking stride and speed at Courage Center Forest Lake.