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Providing balance to people
with peripheral neuropathy

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Places Patients at Higher Risk for Falls2

1 in 4 Adults Fall | Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy | RxFunction
Diabetic 15 Times More Likely to Fall | Peripheral Neuropathy | RxFunction
Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy Places Patients at Higher Risk for Falls | RxFunction

Common treatment interventions include use of assistive devices, balance training and physical therapy

These interventions are largely compensatory and do not address the lack of sensation in the feet

Walkasins® offers a newly available option, clinically-proven to significantly reduce fall risk in patients with Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy4.  See Clinical Research

Information for Prescribers Handout

 

If you’re new to Walkasins®, download our Information for Prescribers Handout designed to provide doctors and other healthcare professionals with what they need to know about Walkasins.

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Healthcare Providers are Encouraged to Adopt and Implement Clinical Practice Guidelines for Fall Prevention

Below is an outline of how fall prevention guidelines can be applied to address patients with peripheral neuropathy who may benefit from Walkasins.

Walkasins Wearable Sensory Prosthetic | Clinical Practice Guideline | Screen

Screen

Regular screening of patient-reported fall history and fear of falling is an important step in identifying patients at risk of falls who may benefit from Walkasins.

Patients displays or reports:

  • Numbness and reduced sensation in feet
  • Difficulty with balance
  • History of falls
Walkasins Wearable Sensory Prosthetic | Clinical Practice Guideline | Assess

Assess

Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy is a specific fall risk factor which, along with evaluations of gait and balance, may suggest a Falls Plan of Care be developed and interventions, such as Walkasins be evaluated for a patient.

Walkasins Wearable Sensory Prosthetic | Clinical Practice Guideline | Intervene

Intervene

Based upon the assessment of risk factors and previous treatments, consider incorporating Walkasins as an intervention to reduce a patient’s fall risk.

Unlike assistive interventions which merely compensate for balance impairment, Walkasins directly targets the root cause of lost sensory nerve function by replacing lost plantar sensation and providing new somatosensation for balance control.

Walkasins Wearable Sensory Prosthetic | Clinical Practice Guideline | Place Order

Place an Order

To order Walkasins for a patient who may benefit, please fax the completed Walkasins Prescription Form to RxFunction at 844-925-5279.

Questions

Our RxFunction team is here to answer questions or provide additional information

Please call us at 888.382.3518 and ask to speak with:

  • An on-staff Physical Therapist to discuss clinical appropriateness for your patient
  • A Reimbursement Specialist to learn about coverage and payment options
Indications for Use

Walkasins is an external lower limb sensory prosthesis intended to replace the nerve function used for detection and signaling of foot pressure sensation.

Walkasins is indicated for patients with lower limb sensory peripheral neuropathy who present with gait and balance impairments. Walkasins is indicated for patients who can feel the tactile stimuli from the Haptic Module on the lower leg.

Contraindications for Use

Walkasins is contraindicated for:

  • Untreated lymphedema;
  • Untreated lesion of any kind, swelling, infection, inflamed area of skin or eruptions on the lower leg near product use;
  • Acute thrombophlebitis including deep vein thrombosis;
  • Untreated fractures in the foot and ankle;
  • Severe peripheral vascular disease.
User Profile

Age: Any, as long as the Receptor Sole and Haptic Module fit properly.

Weight: 55 – 300 lbs. (25 – 136 kg).

Health: Must be able to walk without severe impairment with or without using an ambulatory device.

Education: The patient or the caregiver must be able to read and understand the Instructions for Use.

Indication for Use

Walkasins is indicated for patients with lower limb sensory peripheral neuropathy who present with gait and balance impairments. Walkasins is indicated for patients who can feel the tactile stimuli from the Haptic Module on the lower leg.

Please see the Safety Information for a complete list of warnings, precautions, and contraindications.

Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

1CDC.gov.

2Richardson JK, Hurvitz EA., Peripheral neuropathy: a true risk factor for falls. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995 Jul;50(4):M211-5.

3P.R. Cavanagh, J.A. Derr, J.S. Ulbrecht, R.E. Maser, T.J. Orchard Problems with gait and posture in neuropathic patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Diabet Med, 9 (5) (1992), pp. 469-474.R.

4Koehler-McNicholas SR, Danzl L, Cataldo AY, Oddsson LIE (2019) Neuromodulation to improve gait and balance function using a sensory neuroprosthesis in people who report insensate feet – A randomized control cross-over study. PLOS ONE 14(4): e0216212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216212.