RVNA Health Source: Meet the U-Step!

Purchased through a grant from the Ritter Family Foundation, the U-Step allows RVNA rehabilitation patients to test it out before making an investment.

RVNA recently welcomed a new member to the Rehabilitation team. And like all cherished teammates, our new addition is stable, innovative, and seeks to improve the lives of those around it. 

Behold -- the U-Step.

The U-Step is a leading-edge wheelchair, designed for neurological patients, but beneficial to many others. "Movement is critical to maintaining strength and functionality," explains Gigi Weiss, RVNA Director of Rehabilitation. "And when progressive conditions, injuries, or simply aging compromise mobility, tools like the U-Step help counteract the situation.  Our therapists couldn’t get their hands on the U-Step quickly enough!”  

The U-Step has key features which make it particularly valuable: a reversed braking system which puts the user in control; “rolling resistance” which allows the user to control the speed of the walker; and spring-loaded front wheels that manage uneven surfaces and obstacles smoothly. 

“The goal of any walker,” say Weiss, “is to provide stability and maneuverability so the user can move confidently without risk of falling. Generally, the more someone moves, the better they feel. Which is why we’re so eager to share the U-Step with our patients.”  

Because the U-Step is not inexpensive (roughly $800), having an RVNA model allows our patients to try it out before deciding if it's right for them.