`U-Step’ along with this product
By Herb Drill
Skokie, IL - Jonathan Miller says it repeatedly - in person, in printed materials, and on his web site (jmiller@ustep.com): “The U-Step is not a walker; it is a walking stabilizer!”
With one standing next to me as I write this, I have to agree and understand why Miller was tired of watching his mother suffer from a progressive neurological disorder which affected her muscle strength and balance. When she could no longer walk by herself, she visited several Chicago doctors and was fitted her with leg braces.
They gave her a walker and prescribed 10 weeks of training to relearn how to walk. At the time, Pauline Miller was 63.
“[My mother] spent thousands of dollars on hardware and weeks of physical therapy, but when she returned home there was little improvement,” Jon Miller says. “She was depressed; she continued to fall. She became exhausted from repeatedly lifting and pushing the walker.”
Jon Miller wanted to restore his mother's independence. Miller, 28, worked for five years in new products marketing for a Chicago market research company. One evening, he sat down and drew a mock-up of something he hoped would help his mother. The result, the U-Step walking stabilizer, is a “wheeled walking aid.”
The U-Step rolls with the user and has a single adjustable (right or left) hand brake to stop the unit.
"What is especially unique is its now patented tension adjusting system,” Miller says. “This feature allows the user to adjust the U-Step’s rolling speed. Individuals don’t have to ride the brake to feel safe."
Although it was created for his mother, Mr. Miller knew the U-Step could help others with limited mobility, so he teamed up with an industrial designer and founded In-Step Mobility Products Corp., in Skokie, IL.
"We came up with multiple finishes and designs and interviewed people on their preferences, Mr. Miller notes. "We wanted it to blend in; we didn't want it to draw a lot of attention."
Miller sees the U-Step as “particularly good for those who fall backwards, or have forward moving speed-up problems, or turning problems. It has a small turning radius, and it goes over thresholds easily without having to lift it.”
The one by my side is blue - my favorite color. The U-Step also comes with a black finish and weights 17 pounds. Its collapsible and fits into a car trunk. Miller believes the U-Step offers more stability, control and maneuverability for those with good arm strength. The wheel configuration allows a turn in an area as small as 29 inches. At 22 inches wide, users can walk through narrow doorways.
Tension control allows customizing the rolling speed to fit the user’s walking ability and changes in walking surfaces by turning the knob at the back of the handle. The hand brake can be mounted on the left or right side. When not using the U-Step, put the brake in "park" mode.
Miller’s mother was able to walk him down the aisle at his wedding, and in this "walking peoples' world," Mrs. Miller said, "U-Step gives me the security and stability I need and I don't need to use leg braces. Most of all, it gives me a feeling of independence, something I haven’t felt for a long time."
So far, Jonathan Miller notes, the U-Step “has been tested and [appears] to be beneficial for patients with neurological conditions including Parkinson's Disease, ALS, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, brain injuries, balance disorders, and age-related mobility problems. He stresses the U-Step is made of “quality U.S.-made components and the base is completely welded, not bolted, so it will not loosen over time.”
Be forewarned: this puppy isn’t cheap. It retails in excess of $500, plus shipping charges (usually UPS ground). Miller emphasizes that “generally, Medicare and medical insurance pick up 80% of the cost with an MD's prescription.”
Miller emphasizes that the information his web site gives is with the proviso that In-Step Mobility Products “is not engaged in rendering medical advice, or recommendations. You should consult with a qualified health professional before starting any walking stabilization program … [to] meet your individual medical needs.
For more information, contact: In-Step Mobility Products Corp., 3306 W. Lee St., Skokie, IL 60076. Or fax 773-274-8392, or phone: 800-55U-STEP (558-7837), Illinois residents call 847-676-1275.