Testimonial from Dr. Van Overschelde – Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Philippe van Overschelde is a medical specialist in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, a graduate of Ghent University (1999) with advanced expertise in hip and knee surgery. He practices notably at Medisch Centrum Latem and AZ Maria Middelares, where he contributes to the orthopedic care and rehabilitation of diverse patients, from athletes to the elderly. Highly invested in clinical innovation and surgical training, he also shares his experience internationally.

Why Wheeleo®?

Coordination with crutches rarely poses a problem for younger patients, but for our older patients, who often present with other comorbidities — a neurological condition, sequelae from a stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident), a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), or severe back osteoarthritis — the use of a crutch, or one or two crutches, is not always straightforward, especially in terms of coordination.

And even when people, even at 85 years old, are told: “Look, it would be better to use a rollator to be more stable when walking,” they generally do not like it. It is very stigmatizing.

So we said to ourselves: let’s develop something. Something that allows people to truly have a free hand, that is not stigmatizing, and certainly not as heavy as a rollator—in other words, something that can be taken anywhere. That is how we met you with the Wheeleo®, and honestly, we no longer had to develop it, because you had already developed it for us.

What are the advantages of Wheeleo®?

The added value of the Wheeleo® lies in building confidence and accelerating rehabilitation. It allows patients to leave their room more quickly and cover longer distances, and that is what is important.

People must be able to move. Why? Because mental health is directly linked to the level of physical activity. The Wheeleo® helps improve the mental health of our elderly patient population.

Is the Wheeleo® an integral part of the care protocol in your medical practice?

The Wheeleo® is now used as standard in our practice for people who have difficulty using a crutch, but primarily for those suffering from back osteoarthritis.

The Wheeleo® represents a real added value compared to a crutch, as it allows for mobility recovery while reducing the load on the back. Patients are more stable when walking and actually recover much faster than with a crutch.

What makes the Wheeleo® particularly practical for daily use?

The advantage of the Wheeleo® is that it can be taken anywhere. It does not get in the way. It can actually be used everywhere: patients can have it in their room, take it to the restroom, to the rehabilitation room, to a restaurant, and they can easily enter the elevator with it.

People who wish to go out, for example, when family comes to pick them up for a birthday, can easily place it in the car. In reality, it is chosen because it is very easy to transport, including in a car.

How do patients react when they discover the Wheeleo® for the first time?

When you first show the Wheeleo® to patients, they are always surprised at first. They say: “No, I am not going to walk with that.” But once they have used it, they hesitate and often say: “Let me use it one more time,” and by the time they leave the consultation, they are convinced by the use of the Wheeleo®.

For which patients would you recommend the Wheeleo®?

In our daily practice, we encounter people who often need technical assistance to remain mobile, not only after surgery but also before.

These individuals often present with a limp when walking, or back osteoarthritis, which can be primary or secondary to a hip or knee problem. They therefore often need a walking aid.

Coordination with crutches is rarely a problem for younger patients, but for our older patients, who often present with other comorbidities — a neurological condition, a consequence of a stroke, a TIA, or severe back osteoarthritis — the use of a crutch, or one or two crutches, is not always straightforward, especially from a coordination perspective.

What is your experience with introducing the Wheeleo® into a new therapy department?

Introducing something new into a medical practice is always difficult. Healthcare professionals are accustomed to the tools they currently use. Introducing something new, implementing it, implies a different way of using it, a different way of doing rehabilitation, and so on. So it is not always easy.

It is important to involve the healthcare professional, the rehabilitation physician, the physiotherapist, and the occupational therapist, because the occupational therapist will walk with the patient both during rehabilitation and before an intervention.

Put them in contact and let them use it. Once they have used it, we observed in our hospital that the occupational therapists were extremely enthusiastic upon first contact. You show the Wheeleo®, one is not immediately convinced. Let it be used, and people are convinced.

What effects do you observe in your patients when using the Wheeleo® in rehabilitation?

Regarding the speed of rehabilitation, we find that patients with the Wheeleo® have much more confidence. With the Wheeleo®, we have observed that rehabilitation proceeds more quickly, thus better and faster.