Choosing the Right Mobility Aid for a Patient with Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Gait rehabilitation for a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome requires a thoughtful choice of mobility aid. Indeed, the selection of the device should always be guided by the intended goal: promoting autonomy while preserving or improving the patient’s motor abilities.

Autonomy vs. Stimulation: a Delicate Balance

To promote autonomy, it is essential to choose a device that offers maximum support and effectively reduces the risk of falling. However, to allow for lasting improvement of abilities, exercises must be sufficiently stimulating and offered at an appropriate intensity. This intensity level must be carefully dosed so that the quality of gait does not deteriorate, even as effort increases.

The Wheeleo®: Precise Intensity Adjustment

The Wheeleo® fits perfectly into this approach thanks to its ability to offer adjustable support that allows for precise adjustment of exercise intensity. It thus constitutes an excellent compromise between safety, stimulation, and gait quality.

Video Analysis: Three Walking Aids Compared

In the associated video, we observe the same patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome using three different mobility aids successively:

• The classic rollator: it proves to be the best solution for allowing autonomous movement, particularly thanks to the full use of both upper limbs by the patient. This device offers stable support and facilitated mobility.
• The forearm crutch: it causes too many compensations and imbalances, unnecessarily complicating walking and increasing the risk of falling or excessive fatigue.
• The Wheeleo®: it represents an ideal compromise, as it allows for adapted stimulation while maintaining good gait quality. It is both secure and sufficiently challenging to promote rehabilitation.

Conclusion

The choice of mobility aid must be individualized and adjusted according to the specific needs of the patient and their motor abilities. The Wheeleo® appears to be a particularly interesting solution for patients requiring adjustable support that reconciles autonomy, stimulation, and gait quality.