iWalk 2.0 Review - The Upsides

Yesterday, I posted the downsides of my experience with the iWalk. While there were some small things, there was absolutely nothing that would dissuade me from wholeheartedly recommending it to anyone who finds themselves needing crutches. Here are the things that I really loved about the iWalk 2.0 Armless Crutch, in no particular order.

Easy on the Arms
This is 50% of the motivation behind getting the iWalk. I've had chronic pain since 2008, and had surgery in 2012. While that largely resolved it, the dead last thing I wanted to do was cause more problems with it. That meant that traditional crutches were out of the picture, as people with perfectly healthy arms and shoulders end up sore or injured because of them. The iWalk has been the 100% perfect solution to this.

Stairs
The other 50% behind getting the iWalk was our apartment. Although we are house hunting, we currently live in a third floor without an elevator. Not fun, and although my rolling scooter could probably get down just fine (bump, bump, bump) I'd be left in a crumpled heap with no chance of getting back up the stairs again. Although it takes me a long time, I am able to easily maneuver the stairs. You'll learn quickly to turn a bit sideways so your toes don't hit the stair above you, and remember the mantra: up with the good, down with the bad.

Carrying Things
Another benefit of the iWalk over crutches is that my hands are free to carry whatever needs carrying. I will temper this by saying that I do not carry anything heavy going down stairs, as the last thing I want to do is risk overbalancing and falling, and I still like to have one hand free when going up stairs. But, moving around daily life, this makes things so much simpler.

Exercise
Although I am still under strict limitations by the doctors on what I can do exercise wise, having the iWalk makes going to the gym simple. I am able to lift weights with ease, and then unsnap the buckles and use a mat to do some simple pilates. I also walk around quite a bit with it, although I have been expressly forbidden from walking on the treadmill using it until I'm out of my cast. The picture above is from my first day back to the gym after the surgery, and it made me feel GREAT.

Sitting
Although you look a little silly, it is actually very possible to sit down while still wearing the iWalk. You can sit either flat footed, or with your legs crossed. Just make sure there's space out in front of you, because your peg leg will stick out a couple of feet. Now, if we're going out to eat or sitting for a long time, I take the whole thing off, but when waiting in the doctor's office or somewhere else quick it is really simple to just sit down and stand right back up again when I'm ready to go.

Educating Others
I am an educator at heart, so wearing the iWalk out in public has been a great chance to share with people the fact that there ARE alternatives to crutches. Everyone who has talked to me about it has said that, if they ever end up in a cast, they will definitely look at using this over crutches. I've been glad for the opportunity to share new information with others!

Freedom
More than anything, I think that using the iWalk has given me a sense of freedom and mobility that I don't know that I would have had on crutches, and that I know I don't have with my knee scooter. Right out of the gate following the surgery it wasn't much use, but as I've healed it has allowed me to go out solo, run errands, exercise, and regain some sense of normalcy in my life. I am so grateful that I found this, and I really do hope that, if you find yourself in a situation like mine, you are able to make use of it.

Well, I hope that helps you get a better understanding of the iWalk 2.0 and what my personal experiences with it were. Obviously every individuals needs are going to be different and everyone will have a different experience, but I really do believe that this is a great tool for recovering from a foot injury and I will 100% recommend it to anyone who might have a need for it. Plus, my husband is really excited to use it for Halloween this year :)

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