(1) General Comments

The BBC has reported on us twice:
   locally
   nationally

(2) Walking with MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre's New Pathways magazine has an article on the Musmate. The magazine can be downloaded here . The article starts on page 15.

People with MS discussed the Musmate here

One customer writes "I have tried various things including foot and calf splints that counteract drop foot but these were all so uncomfortable that I could not tolerate using them. Since Friday I have walked further and for longer than at any time in the last eight or nine years, without experiencing any discomfort apart from some muscle ache in my lower back, no doubt caused by an over-enthusiasm for using your product. I walk more naturally and this will reduce the strain on the hip joints and I now feel so much more confident that I can avoid tripping and falling. I can foresee that my wheelchair will be used far less from now on."

Another customer's letter stated "My wife has been confined to a wheelchair for nearly three years. However, two weeks ago, we purchased a Musmate walking aid for her. With the help of the "Both Legs Musmate", a walking frame, and carer, she is able to manage over 30 aided steps. In addition to the joy of being upright again, she has shown an increase in warmth below the knees and there is now a slight movement in the toes on her right foot- a movement not experienced for some years."

Further comments are "I have found that the device has considerably improved my walking ability and I am extremely pleased with the results so far."

The next customer commented "I have been using the Musmate for some months now and have found it invaluable in various ways. It has improved my walking no end giving me a great deal more confidence in going out and trying new places therefore improving my family's quality of life and mine. The greater mobility has had a beneficial effect on other bodily functions too.

I was lucky to get my 'bungee' before we took a family holiday to South Africa. We travelled extensively and I had a brilliant time on safari and at the Cape. I used it so much that I have noticed the sole is worn already. I would not be without it.

Sylvie has an online article on her Musmate available here.

(3) Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) Motor Neurone Disease

One customer reports that the benefits of the Musmate are:
(1) improves the walking gait
(2) more confidence in balance
(3) less effort on leg muscles
He reports that the disadvantage is the time taken to set it up.

(4) Walking with Stroke/ Dyaphasia

A customer commented "Thank you for sending a Right Leg Musmate device for my wife to trial. I am very pleased to say that I have assembled and fitted it to her this day and after an hour or so of walking both around the house and a spell in the garden she is, frankly, thrilled and delighted. Interestingly, she has also noticed that after removing it her brain has, how shall I put it? remembered that her foot has been moving higher with the result that the toe is presently clearing the floor a little better."

(5) Walking with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Lou Gehrig's Disease)

People with ALS are recording their experiences here

(6) Parkinson's Disease

The Dublin Branch of the Parkinson's Association of Ireland report that "the patients who benefited the most from the device were those with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's patients to a lesser extent. Other patients with neurological disorders causing 'foot drop' also benefited from its use"

(7) HSP (Hereditary Spinal Paraparesis)

From the USA, one customer comments " Okay, now I've had my Musmate contraption for nearly a month and even though it has a 28 day guarantee, I'm gonna keep the thing. I don't wear it often. Most days I'm at my desk, in my car etc, but when I plan to do big walks I think its quite helpful and I'm told (by a friend) that my gait looks much better. The first time I wore it, it was certainly odd. Rather than just sticking a foot out there, it is more of a hip action and I wasn't used to that. I needed someone or something to hang onto until I got into the groove.

The web-site implies that the thing can give long lasting benefit. Maybe it can and maybe it can't. I was curious if after a big walk different muscles would ache from use as if I were strengthening different muscles, so I did an hour long city walk (which without the thing would have been slow and irritating). It was a good walk. I did far more distance at a far greater pace than usual. Too, my charming old town is cobbled and while that usually is a real challenge for this toe dragger, with the Musmate those bricks and bumps weren't a problem. I was walking all together differently, stepping firmly on my heels and rolling through to my toes. I wonder too if there will be any positive effect like muscle memory or if I'll shift over even a little bit to that more normal gait. We'll see. I wore the thing with black pants and black shoes so it wasn't terribly noticeable, and looked like I had a back pack strapped on - as if anyone out there cares what anyone else is doing anyway! Its not cheap at over $300 for the "both legs" model...but for years I've been thinking 'can't there a simple effective way to leverage these toes up?'. Yes, there is."

A British customer adds "I cannot say I get a 'normal' heel-toe action. My affected let swings out in the forward swing phase and when my foot eventually comes to ground it's splayed out duck-style. But it has made my walking easier and I can go for longer and apart from fatigue when I do long walks (3-4 miles) I no longer have a fear of not completing them. I no longer have any worry about what people might think when they see me - some even seem interested in the whole idea!

My two concerns are: a) the shoe harness doesn't last. I have now had two and the second came apart when my wife and I were in the Lakes last weekend. The sole strap just doesn't stand up to the rocky paths of Cumbria. and b) the adjusting slider on the bungee just won't stay in place. I find that I have to adjust the length about every 10-15 minutes. I propose now to insert some sort of screw or nail to keep the cord at an even length and to adjust the length with the top strap whenever I wear different shoes.I have also reverted to using the shoelace connector and have sent off today for a replacement shoe harness ( to wear with ordinary shoes in town) and two more lace connectors to make sure one is always attached to my various walking shoes.

(8) Spinocerebrallar Ataxia

"Gives me the confidence to walk with the aid of two walking sticks across a flat surface."

(9) Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

I work in the school system so my client is a middle school student diagnosed with TBI. He has left hemiplegia with a foot drop. He has been wearing an AFO on his left foot until recently when friction caused a sore on his great toe. He stopped wearing his AFO to allow the sore to heal but then he started dragging his foot again and the school staff was concerned with him tripping and falling. Anyway, to make a long story short, I put the Musmate on him and it did the trick! The best part is that he felt comfortable wearing it....you know how teenagers can be!

(10) Others

The Musmate is suggested for people with Spinal AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) here.

Here is a photo of somebody preparing for a charity walk in their Musmate.

Somebody else who appreciates the freedom provided by the Musmate reports on it here.

Our Products

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Copyright © 2005 - 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Musmate Ltd

Template by OS Templates