iWALK3.0 – The Original Hands Free Knee Crutch - Alternative to Crutches and Knee Scooters - iWALK Replaces Crutches for Adults - Peg Leg Crutch For Lower Leg Injuries Only

This is probably one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, at minimum it’s definitely the best purchase I made after breaking my fibula. I truly feel like it helped give me my life back after surgery considering I would’ve been stuck at home or in crutches for the months of recovery. I bought this along with a knee scooter, and the moment I got the hang of it, I never touched the scooter again.All this aside, there are some drawbacks.Pros:-ability to be very mobile again-Price point is very affordable compared to other medical equipment-Very customizable to fit different heights, leg sizes, and whether or not you’re wearing a bootNeither Good Nor Bad Aspects/Things That Will Differ Person to Person:-Setup is relatively simple, BUT YOU SHOULD WATCH THE ACCOMPANYING VIDEOS-Relatively easy to get used to and balance onCons:-You truly have to learn to change how you walk and become deliberate with your hip and thigh movements, you will drag your foot and stumble if not paying attention-It is phenomenal on flat ground, walking around uneven terrain and stairs will take practice, and you’ll never fully be able to do it without looking-It will affect your back and other leg, much like crutches can, but this is not a complete revamping of your body to get it back to 100%-Not everyone will work well with this, my orthopedic doctor said I’m in the very limited amount of patients she’s had that tried this and it worked out wellOther Important Info You Should Know:This is not the right equipment if you’re insecure or dislike social interactions. You will get people stopping you to ask questions, you will get long and drawn-out stares, some mean comments, and just a lot of random talking with strangers. I have no issues with these things because I’m a very social person, but this is not something for the self-conscious. It sounds silly to bring this up, but I feel it is something that could affect people badly in recovery and it’s important you know that going into it.

So, I’m off my foot for at least 6 weeks and my ortho showed me this product. I read the reviews (good and bad) and figured anything has to be more stable than how I feel on crutches. I’m not as confident in them as I was in my teens and 20s and without any weight on my left foot-well you get the picture.Here is my full take on the product:I received the iwalk and put it together about 48 hours after surgery. It is an extremely stable piece of hardware, but super simple to put together. I was immediately up and holding onto my husband, then the wall and finally with a cane after one lap around the upstairs hallway. I prefer the cane due to needing peace of mind after such a violent fall/break, but am stable enough not to need it.There is a small handle at the top front of the device that helps you remember to pick up your leg completely so you don’t do a stutter step. I have horrible knees, but don’t feel any pressure or pain when using this. The weight is on my entire leg, not just the knee. I can stand at the bathroom sink or the kitchen counter and make a cup of coffee without wobbling back and forth or juggling the crutches. Huge benefit!I’m not sure how others sit down in this thing…it puts way too much pressure on my leg where it is injured to try that again. So if I just need a quick trip to the bathroom, I still revert to crutches.The straps are designed to be adjusted one time and they are easy for me to put on and take off by myself. Pretty thoughtful design and the padding is decent so the straps aren’t uncomfortable.I can also take the device off and use it as the prop for my leg to keep it elevated while working.Stairs were a surprise. Super easy to go up! Way better then crutches. I unfortunately am at the exact height that my toes/front foot hit the stir above me when trying to go down though: i turn around and navigate them backwards….I know I know, sounds like it wouldn’t be worth the hassle, but it’s actually not as bad as it sounds. I’m very stable, not wobbly at all and just as fast going down backwards on this device than I am on crutches…just no more fear of falling forward and breaking my face!I will say…I may be in my late 40s, but I can go out and run 3 miles, do sit ups, martial arts, golf, swim etc. I’m not the most physically fit person, but I’ve had a lifetime of a stable core and good lower back strength to balance my core. I would never recommend this product to someone who doesn’t have good balance or a strong core/lower back. This device seriously works the core, the lower back (both sides), the quads and the hip flexors. If you are fit and active, ease into it. If you aren’t…be honest with yourself and go for the scooter.I couldn’t be more thankful for this product and the confidence and stability it has given me just a few days post surgery. I have no complaints and love that the bottom is made by one of my favorite shoe makers (vibram). Unlike crutches, this won’t slip if there is a drop of water on the tiled bathroom floor which is another bonus.

For use on level surfaces, this appliance is better than a knee scooter, in the sense that you can travel around your rooms more quickly. But that comes at a cost: it takes time to strap on the appliance and again when it's time to take it off.The major attraction for me concerns stairs. I am dreading my surgery because afterwards, I will be trapped by stairs. For some folks, this appliance will enable them to carefully travel up and down stairs. However, I find that this requires skill and balance and personally, I am not confident.The marketing copy for this appliance offers suggestions. You can try a simple balance exercise before you buy the appliance. This involves standing on one foot for thirty seconds. Do this exercise before you buy.The construction of the appliance is mostly sound. There are three straps on the thing, and one of them annoyed me. I had trouble keeping its length constant, and I had trouble keeping the accompanying pad in place. The length of all three straps is critical, and the video instructions spell this out. You need the thing to be stable.Other than that, the design and quality of the appliance is sound. The seller publishes videos that explain how to assemble and use the appliance, and I found these videos to be helpful and straight forward.If you have the necessary skill to use this appliance, it will make your post-surgery or recovery experience very much better - especially if you have stairs in your life. But that is a very important "if."