In gait rehabilitation, technical aids are often designed for safety. Devices like rollators are almost always equipped with manual brakes. An obvious choice? Not necessarily.
At Wheeleo®, we’ve decided to rethink this logic. What if the most effective brake wasn’t mechanical, but ‘motor’? What if the patient themselves became the main actor in stopping?
Unlike classic rollators, the Wheeleo® doesn’t have a mechanical brake. And yet, it stops… exactly when the patient stops.
This functionality is based on a fundamental principle: active control of movement. The user doesn’t “rely on a mechanical brake, but on their own ability to modulate their pace, slow down, and stop voluntarily”.
A form of “motor brake”, to use an analogy from driving — a relatable image, even if it’s not classically used in the field of rehabilitation.
This approach challenges a well-established belief: that the systematic presence of brakes is a guarantee of safety. However, in many situations, they are not used correctly, or not at all. The patient brakes with their hands… but forgets to engage their body.
With Wheeleo®, it’s the opposite. The device encourages voluntary motor engagement from the very first steps. It becomes a rehabilitation tool, not just a compensation aid. The patient learns to actively manage their movement, regain body control, and rebuild confidence.
Users describe it best. Mrs. Bovy, a Wheeleo® user, perfectly summarizes the experience:
“There’s no need for a brake! When I start, it starts. When I stop, it stops.”
No brake to pull, no mechanical lock to anticipate: she is the brake. Simplified motor learning, a secure gesture, enhanced autonomy.
The Wheeleo® is particularly relevant in neurology, where active gait work is essential. Stroke, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis… all situations where we aim for a reconnection between intention and motor action.
The absence of a brake is not a lack: it’s a therapeutic choice. A choice that invites us to think differently about walking aids. Should we secure everything, or should we allow everyone to relearn how to secure themselves?
This principle of active movement regulation could also find its place in geriatrics, where maintaining autonomy and stimulating motor control are essential to limit functional losses.
What if we gave patients the ability to brake themselves?
What if motor autonomy also came through… the absence of a mechanical brake?
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