What a Gait Trainer Is
A gait trainer is a walking frame that holds part of the body up so the legs can practise stepping. A walker supports someone who can already stand and balance. A gait trainer supports someone who cannot yet do either, which is why it carries pelvic supports, trunk supports, forearm platforms and a seat rather than two handgrips.
Most gait trainers are used by children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, developmental delay or recovery from orthopaedic surgery. Adult models exist for neurological rehabilitation. The goal is the same in both: enough support to make stepping possible, and no more, so the user keeps doing the work.
Posterior or Anterior
This is the first decision and it changes posture, not just convenience.
| Posterior (frame behind) | Anterior (frame in front) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the user walks | In front of the frame, pulling it | Behind the frame, pushing it |
| Effect on posture | Encourages upright trunk and head | Tends to pull the user forward |
| Step length | Longer, more natural | Shorter |
| Usual choice for | Children learning a gait pattern, cerebral palsy | Users who need to see and lean on the frame |
| Typical example here | Drive Nimbo posterior walker | Anterior safety roller |
Posterior is the more common prescription for paediatric gait training, because a child who walks in front of the frame holds their head and trunk up rather than folding over a frame in front of them. A therapist's assessment decides this, not a preference.
The Supports and What Each One Fixes
Gait trainers are configured, not bought off the shelf. Each support solves a specific failure.
- Pelvic support or stabilizer. Pelvic position is the foundation of gait. A pelvis that rotates or drops takes the whole pattern with it, so stabilising it is often what makes stepping possible at all.
- Forearm platforms. Transfer weight through the forearms instead of the hands, for a user who cannot grip or bear weight through the wrists. Without them a child who cannot grip simply cannot use the trainer.
- Trunk or chest support. Holds the upper body upright so the legs are free to work.
- Seat. Lets the user rest without leaving the trainer, which is what extends a session from five minutes to twenty.
- Non-swivel front wheels. Track straight. A child learning a stepping pattern needs straight tracking before they need manoeuvrability.
- Speed limiter and backward stop. Stop the frame running away downhill or rolling back as the user pushes up out of a seat.
Replacement supports, seats, wheels and brake handles are in Walker Accessories.
Sizing
Gait trainers are sold in sizes, usually numbered 1 to 4 or named extra small to large, and the size is set by the user's height and hip width rather than age. A trainer that is too large cannot support the pelvis where it needs supporting, and one that is too small forces a cramped posture. Every product page carries the manufacturer's size table with the height range and weight capacity for each size.
Children grow out of gait trainers. Check the top of the stated height range against the child's current height before ordering, and ask about the next size up at the same time.
Gait Trainer or Walker
If the user can stand unaided and needs support for balance or weight-bearing while walking, a walker or rollator is the right device and far simpler. See Standard Walkers and 4 Wheel Rollators. If the user cannot hold themselves upright without help, a walker gives them nothing to work with and a gait trainer is the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a gait trainer and a walker?
A walker supports someone who can already stand and balance. A gait trainer holds part of the body up with pelvic, trunk and forearm supports so someone who cannot stand unaided can practise stepping.
What is a posterior gait trainer?
One where the frame sits behind the user and is pulled along. It encourages an upright trunk and a longer step, which is why it is the common choice for paediatric gait training.
Is a gait trainer only for children?
No. Most are paediatric, but adult models are used in neurological rehabilitation after stroke or spinal injury. The sizing table on each product page states the height and weight range.
How do I choose the size?
By the user's height and hip width, not their age. Each product page carries the manufacturer's size table. Check the top of the height range against current height, because children outgrow these.
Do I need the pelvic support?
Usually, and it is often the component that decides whether stepping happens. Pelvic position is the foundation of gait; a pelvis that rotates or drops takes the whole pattern with it. Your therapist will specify which supports are needed.
What are forearm platforms for?
They transfer weight through the forearms rather than the hands, for a user who cannot grip or cannot bear weight through the wrists.
Can a gait trainer be used outdoors?
Some models offer all-terrain wheel options for grass and uneven ground. Check the wheel specification on the product page, because standard indoor wheels catch on soft surfaces.
Why does the brake handle size matter for a child?
A brake a child cannot physically squeeze is a brake that does not exist. Hand strength, not understanding, is usually what stops a child operating their own equipment, so extra small handles with reduced tension are available on several models.
Does insurance cover a gait trainer?
Gait trainers can be covered as durable medical equipment when a physician documents medical need, but coverage, supplier rules and your share of cost depend on your plan. We are not able to bill your insurance for you. Check with your plan and your physician before you order, and keep the invoice.
Can I order one without a therapist assessment?
You can, but we do not recommend it. Posterior versus anterior, size, and which supports are needed are clinical decisions, and the wrong configuration can reinforce a poor gait pattern rather than correct it.
MediDepot Purchasing Advantages
- Shipped from US stock, so you are not waiting on an overseas order.
- Manufacturer warranty on every frame, handled by us.
- The manufacturer's size table on each product page, with height range and weight capacity per size.
- Replacement supports, seats, wheels and brake handles stocked, so a growing child does not need a new trainer.
- Bulk and facility pricing available for schools, paediatric clinics and rehab units.
Related Buying Guides
- Posterior versus anterior gait trainers
- Sizing a paediatric gait trainer
- When to move from a gait trainer to a walker
- Physical therapy equipment by condition
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