New walking device to help mobility from comfort of MS patients’ homes

Medthera has launched WalkPort, a supported walking station designed to help people with mobility difficulties, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS), safely stand and practice walking at home and in clinical settings.

The device is now open for reservations in America, with initial shipments expected to start in August, according to the company.

‘Walking is more than movement – it’s independence,’ Alan Tholkes, Medthera’s founder and CEO, and a longtime quadriplegic wheelchair user, said in a company press release.

‘I saw firsthand how limited access to consistent therapy slows progress. WalkPort was built to give people a safe way to practice walking every day, whether at home or as part of their therapy program.’

In MS, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord can cause a range of mobility-related symptoms, including muscle stiffness (spasticity), weakness, fatigue, pain, and balance problems.

While physical therapy and regular exercise may help patients maintain mobility and independence, it can be difficult for patients to practice walking outside clinical settings.

WalkPort is intended to help address that gap by allowing patients to engage in supported, repetitive walking-like movements.

The equipment, which can be used at home or in rehabilitation centres, helps users with sit-to-stand transitions and includes stabilising supports to help keep the body upright and stable.

This helps reduce the risk of falls and allows users to focus on consistent movement.

To practice walking, the system guides the legs through walking-like motions, which the company says may help reinforce more natural gait patterns.

A companion mobile app then tracks metrics such as steps, pace, and time spent standing or walking, allowing users and therapists to set goals and monitor progress over time. Performance may be accompanied in real time with visual summaries that show walking consistency and efficiency, and how time is spent between standing and walking.

The device, which for now is only available in the U.S., may increase access to walking therapy. Traditional gait training can require multiple therapists to ensure patient safety, but WalkPort is designed to reduce the need for hands-on assistance while maintaining stability.

According to Medthera, the device may also be used in other conditions that affect mobility, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. It may also be useful for people with age-related mobility limitations.

For Paul, a 54-year-old man who lives with Parkinson’s and has been using the device, his core strength is much better.

‘Before I started using WalkPort daily four weeks ago, it took significant effort to stand up from a chair. Now, I do it almost without thinking.’

To read more ways you can help improve the quality of your life with exercise, have a read of our helpful Choices booklet